@lrueter.bsky.social
First time gardener in Alaska. Enjoyer of art, books, sewing, fishing, camping and foods.
I had a fun night at Bagoy's florist shop at a friend's wreath making party. They had the base wreath made and we enjoyed snacks and drinks while decorating them. Suddenly I'm ready for the holidays.
November 16, 2025 at 8:23 AM
I had a fun night at Bagoy's florist shop at a friend's wreath making party. They had the base wreath made and we enjoyed snacks and drinks while decorating them. Suddenly I'm ready for the holidays.
Last night's aurora was amazing. My phone only captured the faint vestiges, but I was fortunate to see it when much of the sky was pink.
November 13, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Last night's aurora was amazing. My phone only captured the faint vestiges, but I was fortunate to see it when much of the sky was pink.
Friday and Monday's donations from my school for those affected by Typhoon Halong in Western Alaska. Several families have arrived in Anchorage.
October 21, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Friday and Monday's donations from my school for those affected by Typhoon Halong in Western Alaska. Several families have arrived in Anchorage.
Wed after school I posted about the Western Alaska Relief Drive. Thu our school community brought enough to fill a car. After school Fri there was more in our school lobby after a teacher took the 1st load out.
I'm proud at the response for help across our state and in my school.
I'm proud at the response for help across our state and in my school.
October 18, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Wed after school I posted about the Western Alaska Relief Drive. Thu our school community brought enough to fill a car. After school Fri there was more in our school lobby after a teacher took the 1st load out.
I'm proud at the response for help across our state and in my school.
I'm proud at the response for help across our state and in my school.
Fried Green Tomatoes! The green house hasn't frozen yet at night, but snow is on the mountains and any week, perhaps the end of this week, there could be frozen ground and perhaps snow.
October 15, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Fried Green Tomatoes! The green house hasn't frozen yet at night, but snow is on the mountains and any week, perhaps the end of this week, there could be frozen ground and perhaps snow.
Karissa Stevens on YouTube inspired me to make this easy meal. Made with potatoes and kale I grew myself. Cook 1 diced onion, 1lb Italian sausage w/o casing. 8 cups chicken broth, 2.5lbs small dice potatoes, simmer until potatoes are soft. 12oz cream, 1 cup chopped kale, salt, pepper& garlic powder.
October 8, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Karissa Stevens on YouTube inspired me to make this easy meal. Made with potatoes and kale I grew myself. Cook 1 diced onion, 1lb Italian sausage w/o casing. 8 cups chicken broth, 2.5lbs small dice potatoes, simmer until potatoes are soft. 12oz cream, 1 cup chopped kale, salt, pepper& garlic powder.
Vegetable lentil soup. This is a recipe in "Tastes Like Home" Greek recipes by the church members at a Greek Orthodox Church. I removed the olive oil from the recipe to pressure can it, still tastes pretty good, though I'll probably drizzle some on when serving. Used my celery, carrots& onions.
October 6, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Vegetable lentil soup. This is a recipe in "Tastes Like Home" Greek recipes by the church members at a Greek Orthodox Church. I removed the olive oil from the recipe to pressure can it, still tastes pretty good, though I'll probably drizzle some on when serving. Used my celery, carrots& onions.
A few small tomatoes, more on the vine. Several are cracked with uneven watering I think, though these are on a water line. The tubing is likely plugged up with algae or something. Nights have been getting colder, not sure when I have to pick them all, but soon.
October 3, 2025 at 7:03 AM
A few small tomatoes, more on the vine. Several are cracked with uneven watering I think, though these are on a water line. The tubing is likely plugged up with algae or something. Nights have been getting colder, not sure when I have to pick them all, but soon.
Carrots for days. 83 pounds harvested so far.
October 1, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Carrots for days. 83 pounds harvested so far.
Frost date fast approaching, still trying to clear out my garden. Most of my onions are barley golf ball size, but not bad for a first try. A couple pounds of carrots, a couple bags of kale and chard.
September 25, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Frost date fast approaching, still trying to clear out my garden. Most of my onions are barley golf ball size, but not bad for a first try. A couple pounds of carrots, a couple bags of kale and chard.
Potato harvest, I planted 40lbs of seed potatoes in the spring and have dug up 110lbs so far. Depending on the variety some have yeilded twice or thrice their weight in seed. First frost is coming any time now.
September 22, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Potato harvest, I planted 40lbs of seed potatoes in the spring and have dug up 110lbs so far. Depending on the variety some have yeilded twice or thrice their weight in seed. First frost is coming any time now.
I pulled up 7 pounds of carrots including all the rainbow carrots in my garden. Rainbow carrots are supposed to be an early harvest variety, but plenty didn't grow particularly large, though they are pretty. The white ones did the worst, often small and woody. Very few pink ones, all beautiful.
September 14, 2025 at 7:24 AM
I pulled up 7 pounds of carrots including all the rainbow carrots in my garden. Rainbow carrots are supposed to be an early harvest variety, but plenty didn't grow particularly large, though they are pretty. The white ones did the worst, often small and woody. Very few pink ones, all beautiful.
Tomato dinner of tomato mozzarella salad and bruschetta.
September 12, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Tomato dinner of tomato mozzarella salad and bruschetta.
A rare treat! My students made some modern akutaq: berries, crisco and sugar (I didn't want to deal with fish and allergies). The berries were from last Friday's hike and berry picking field trip. Primarily crowberries with some blueberries and an occasional cranberry.
September 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
A rare treat! My students made some modern akutaq: berries, crisco and sugar (I didn't want to deal with fish and allergies). The berries were from last Friday's hike and berry picking field trip. Primarily crowberries with some blueberries and an occasional cranberry.
Blueberries and crowberries. Frozen blueberries from last year. I made some blueberry jam and crowberry syrup. Crowberries are more gentle in flavor when made into syrup than the blueberries.
September 7, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Blueberries and crowberries. Frozen blueberries from last year. I made some blueberry jam and crowberry syrup. Crowberries are more gentle in flavor when made into syrup than the blueberries.
The tomatoes are coming! Gardeners' Delight on the left, Polar Star are the middle and one in my hand, Subarctic is the small round one to the right.
Polar Star and Subarctic were developed in Fairbanks, Alaska I believe. They all taste sweeter than what is available in the grocery stores.
Polar Star and Subarctic were developed in Fairbanks, Alaska I believe. They all taste sweeter than what is available in the grocery stores.
September 5, 2025 at 6:02 AM
The tomatoes are coming! Gardeners' Delight on the left, Polar Star are the middle and one in my hand, Subarctic is the small round one to the right.
Polar Star and Subarctic were developed in Fairbanks, Alaska I believe. They all taste sweeter than what is available in the grocery stores.
Polar Star and Subarctic were developed in Fairbanks, Alaska I believe. They all taste sweeter than what is available in the grocery stores.
Did you know that it takes about 6 cups of red currants to make 2 cups of juice? I made red raspberry and currant jam and enough currant pulp & juice to make a jar of just currant jam. The pulp lightens the color and made it opaque. Regardless, all are delicious.
August 31, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Did you know that it takes about 6 cups of red currants to make 2 cups of juice? I made red raspberry and currant jam and enough currant pulp & juice to make a jar of just currant jam. The pulp lightens the color and made it opaque. Regardless, all are delicious.
Shelled a bunch of peas, for 6 pints.
August 30, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Shelled a bunch of peas, for 6 pints.
One red tomato, but others are starting to turn color. This is an Early Girl grown in the green house. It was sweet and salty, it made some cute slices on the salad.
August 30, 2025 at 3:50 AM
One red tomato, but others are starting to turn color. This is an Early Girl grown in the green house. It was sweet and salty, it made some cute slices on the salad.
Today I harvested my little onions. They are Walla Walla and Spanish Sweet onions. Like everything else, it's my first time. Some as big as golf balls, but most smaller. I wonder if anyone else in 4/5 zone do better when some is short?
August 29, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Today I harvested my little onions. They are Walla Walla and Spanish Sweet onions. Like everything else, it's my first time. Some as big as golf balls, but most smaller. I wonder if anyone else in 4/5 zone do better when some is short?
Carrots in chicken broth!
August 24, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Carrots in chicken broth!
Raspberry jam today! Happy to be able to harvest and save my foods.
August 23, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Raspberry jam today! Happy to be able to harvest and save my foods.
My first set of jarred vegetables! Chard on the left (I was hoping for some pretty red, oh well) and lake on the right. Planning to make jam tomorrow.
August 23, 2025 at 7:27 AM
My first set of jarred vegetables! Chard on the left (I was hoping for some pretty red, oh well) and lake on the right. Planning to make jam tomorrow.
First time pressure canning on my own. It's been over a decade since I've done it and that was with experienced friends. I jarred some kale and Swiss Chard.
August 23, 2025 at 5:49 AM
First time pressure canning on my own. It's been over a decade since I've done it and that was with experienced friends. I jarred some kale and Swiss Chard.
Carrots, potatoes, onions and peas. We no longer have carrots from the store, just garden grown. We haven't bought lettuce in over a month thanks to all the kale, Chard and lettuce we've grown. Gathered just enough shelling peas for a small serving at dinner. Onions are rather cute sized.
August 19, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Carrots, potatoes, onions and peas. We no longer have carrots from the store, just garden grown. We haven't bought lettuce in over a month thanks to all the kale, Chard and lettuce we've grown. Gathered just enough shelling peas for a small serving at dinner. Onions are rather cute sized.