Just Me & My Moments in July – What’s Blooming in My Pots
Thank you so much for visiting! This post may contain affiliate links that I receive commissions from purchases made. Click HERE for my disclosure statement.
a
Here you will find a collection of ideas, tips, and just thoughts. I love to share everything happening in my abundant life and what inspires me.
Welcome to Just Me & My Moments! It’s a little space where I share the bits and pieces that make up my everyday life. From small joys to honest reflections, it’s all about capturing the moments that shape who I am. Nothing fancy, just real life, simple and meaningful, and one moment at a time as a widow.
I’m so happy you are here!
These zucchini muffins have become one of my go-to ways to use up the garden overflow because they freeze beautifully, they’re an easy grab-and-go breakfast, and they hide a ridiculous amount of shredded zucchini without anyone noticing. I packed the batter full, baked up a batch, and had warm muffins cooling on the rack next to the very zucchini that went into them, which felt like a nice full circle kind of morning.
Beyond the muffins, this is usually the time of year I get creative with whatever the garden hands me. Grated zucchini goes into scrambled eggs, into fritters, into soups, or just gets salted and sautéed plain with a little garlic in my cast iron skillet. Cucumbers turn into quick refrigerator pickles. Tomatoes get sliced onto everything or simmered into a sauce, which I freeze in small containers for later. None of it is fancy, but it’s the kind of cooking that feels good, using what’s actually growing instead of letting it go to waste. I also make a Squash Casserole that’s so good this time of the year.
If your garden is handing you more than you know what to do with right now, I hope this gives you a little inspiration. Don’t forget to drop some off to the family, friends, and neighbors.
⛈️ DROUGHT: We are still in phase 3 of the drought, and it seems the county isn’t going to lift it until October. Some areas in Central Florida have really received a lot of rain. Our area is starting to get the normal rains that happen this time of the year. Hoping the water tables are filling back up in the state.
🐕🦺DIXIE’S CORNER: Mom said I could have my own area to chat with her readers. I hope you enjoy my dog rants. Let me start by saying, wearing this thick black fur coat all day and night in the Florida summer ain’t fun at all. It’s so hot outside! But Mom, she wakes up early early and takes me for my walk right when the sun is coming up, before it gets too hot. It’s still hot but not like Hades hot, so that’s a good thing. But you know what I really really like about summer? When it starts raining, and me and Mom sit outside on the porch together. She sits on the bench and I sit right by her, with the cool air blowing through my fur and it feels so so good. Everything just slows down, and it’s my favorite part of the whole day. Okay bye everybody, see you next month, and love your fur babies!
🪴IN THE GARDEN: This time of the year in the garden in most zones means it’s time to do some serious trimming. Annuals need to be cut back so another flush of blooms will start and to keep the plants from getting too leggy. Azaleas, crepe myrtles, and hydrangeas, to list a few, love acid soil. I normally fertilize in the spring, summer, and fall. If you see it’s going to rain, sprinkle some azalea acid food around those plants. The safest time for pruning azaleas is immediately after the spring bloom ends until late July. If you push into August, you risk cutting into developing buds. You can also deadhead crepe myrtles to get another bloom later in the summer.
🍝 COLD SPAGHETTI SALAD: Cook 1 pound spaghetti noodles according to package directions in boiling water seasoned with 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Drain and let cool completely. In a large bowl, combine 1 diced green pepper, 1 diced red pepper, ½ thinly sliced red onion, 1 sliced English cucumber, 1 cup grape tomatoes (halved), 1 (2.25-ounce) can sliced olives (drained), 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, and ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese. Add cooled spaghetti on top. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon McCormick Salad Supreme seasoning and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Pour in 1 (16-ounce) bottle Italian dressing (my favorite Gazebo Room Greek Dressing). Toss gently until everything is well combined. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours before serving. My mom used to make this a lot during the summer, and it was perfect for lunch.
🌑💐FUN AND INTERESTING FACTS: What water-filled summer fruit is actually a vegetable? Watermelon is actually a vegetable belonging to the cucumber family. It is 92% water.
⛪ IN CLOSING: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast – Ephesians 2:8-9
Something to chew on
“You were never meant to stay the same. Life will push, pull, and stretch you, but that’s how you grow. Every chapter that closes makes room for a new one to begin, and sometimes, the best stories start when you least expect them”
Love the look of stone pots, but don’t want to pay those prices for them?
You can see how to make your own here.
💗What I’m loving this month
- Make your own Woven Garden Cloches (something I want to try)
- An easy wreath to make
- Check out these summer budget table centerpieces
- Make your own Flower Frog
- Great post on collecting and displaying vintage items
- Make a Picket Fence Easel for your garden
- Cute DIY Block Print Napkins for your next party
- How about a few healthy summer recipes
- Turn a vintage bird cage into a garden planter
- 9 Creative Uses for Coffee Grounds
What I’m watching, reading & listening to
📺 The second season of Leanne starts on August 27th on Netflix. This is such a cute show, and if you love Leanne’s comedy, you will love this show.
📺 I’ve been watching Scandal on Netflix, and what a great show. If you like a lot of twists and turns dealing with our government, you gotta watch this show.
📺 I watched The Sheep Detectives on Amazon, and who would’ve thunk an animated movie would make me ugly cry!!
📺 There is a reason why I don’t go on cruises, and Shipwrecked – Nightmare at Sea solidified that decision for me! And one more docu for the road. A Toxic Love Story. No spoilers here, but a must-watch.
Let me know of any true crime stories you’ve watched in the comments.
My Travel Favs
Taking a trip soon? Check out some of my favorite travel items to make packing easier.
Latest Posts
Our Books and coloring books
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. – John 10:10
⬇️ Find out what that verse is all about from our books ⬇️
The Ultimate Garden Planner
Make your garden the best it can be
It’s time to plan that dream garden with our digital garden planner, and the printables feature a range of topics, including planning, planting, growing, and maintaining your garden.
subscribe
Sign up for our newsletter to receive recipes, gardening tips, decor ideas, travel, vintage galore, and much more inspiration! You will also receive a link to a FREEBIE!
And don’t worry, we hate spam too! You can unsubscribe at any time, and your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Privacy Policy
Shop my Amazon Storefront, my LTK sources, my favorite finds, and garden supplies. If you have a fur baby, check out some of Dixie’s favorite items. When you purchase through one of my links, I earn a small commission, which helps me continue sharing the content you expect on my blog.
Tammy
I’m a country girl living my geeky boomer life, while figuring out widowhood. Between digging in the dirt, my camera, thrifting finds, and cooking, I’m a child of God walking this next chapter with Him leading the way.
Read more about me and check out my media kit. Our Privacy Policy