Blog Archive

Monday, March 30, 2026

Monday Musings and the Harvest Basket

For the last year, I  have been trying to eat fish at least twice a week. It's good for  ya' - well that's what my doctor says.  Anywhooo... Tuesdays is "Tuna Tuesday" . I always try to give a little twist to my tuna salads . 

Last week I made the most delectable tuna salad- with the addition of a chopped apple, chopped celery, homemade relish ( yum yum) , feta cheese ,pickled  jalapenos and olive oil mayo with a blanket of fresh spinach on toasted wheat bread. It was just mouth watering. The addition of chopped apples and the spice of the jalapenos was a favorable surprise. 

 As I made my sandwich, my mind wandered to past joyful days in the garden - staking tomatoes, picking cucumbers and summer squash.  The sweet cucumber relish that we made  a couple of years ago  brought back many fond memories . Every time we pull a jar out of the pantry it is like getting a pleasant gift from the garden. This year I hope to plant more cucumbers , tomatoes and of course peppers galore. 
Have you started thinking about your garden? 

Homemade sweet cucumber relish is the bomb! 

This brings me to Block #3 in Melva's Little  House on the Prairie Sew Along. Eeeeh! It's Harvest Basket


"Some old fashioned things like  fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat. " -Laura Ingalls Wilder


Last year Mr. Pinker and I would spend "many a hours" in the garden filling our own harvest baskets. In fact , there were times that we would take one basket load in and then go out for another.  I should be so lucky if we have a good harvest this year. 

"A farmer depends on himself, and the land and the weather." Laura Ingalls Wilder - Farmer Boy

 All of the fabrics for Harvest Basket were found in my stash. Strips of calicos, plaids  and prints. It was fun to look at the information on the selveges . Some of the fabrics were nigh 20+ years old. 


So tell me. If you are planning a garden, what do you hope to fill your harvest basket? 

I am making progress on Little House Needlework's "Farm Life". Vegetables are being harvested. 


Well Sweet friends, I best get off here and see what mischief I can get into. 

Before you leave. Do you have any suggestions on new ways to prepare canned tuna or salmon? I would be every so grateful for any new recipe suggestions. 


Melva's Little House on the Prairie Sew Along Posts:

INTRODUCTION of the Little House on the  Prairie Stitching Along - January 29, 2026

Block 1 Maple Leaf- February 5, 2026

Block 2 Native Star- February 19, 2026

Block 3 Harvest Basket- March 5, 2026

Block 4 Shoo Fly- March 19, 2026


🌻  A Sneaky Peek of what is on the finishing table today- Eeeeh ! Summer Stamps! 🌻


Have a beautiful day! 

Hugs and Stitches

Melisa 


The squirrels are running rampede here in the holler - gathering seeds and such. 


"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred..." - Laura Ingalls Wilder -  A Little House Sampler  A Collection of  Early Stories and Reminiscenses 


23 comments:

  1. Adorable little harvest basket block, Melisa--the colors are perfect!!
    My DH makes us creamed tuna on toast --he makes a mean white sauce...adds a bit of dried onion, some minced celery and black pepper--it is SOOOO good...Your tuna salad recipe looks really good;)))
    We only have our little raised bed garden on our deck as we neither can do the bending stooping etc involved in an in-the-earth garden these days. We plan on a couple tomato plants, early lettuce, herbs, and perhaps a mini cucumber...I just turned over the winter Rye we planted to nourish the soil...won't be long now I can dig in the soil. ;))) Makes me so happy;))))
    Hugs, Julierose

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the harvest basket block. All of the fabrics in your blocks are working so well together. I'm still pondering what to try to grow this year. Whatever it is, it will be in a raised bed. I'd love to grow some peppers and make hot pepper sauce for turnip and collard greens. I'll have my usual mint and basil.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pretty harvest basket blocks. I use canned salmon to make fish cakes with mashed potato and chopped onion, refrigerate first then fry gently in a pan. And just last week I made fish pie using salmon, white sauce peas, hardboiled eggs, topped with mashed potato and grated cheese. Easy to do and very tasty. I'm not one for canned tuna though.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I like to add in hard boiled eggs and pickles to my tuna salad. I love your basket. Thanks for joining the block party.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The most important item in the garden is an heirloom variety of tomato called Pineapple, it's so delicious! It's too tender to transport and only can be grown in home gardens. I like to add some shredded cheddar cheese to my tuna salad then microwave and have a hot sandwich. Of course I love cheese!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Adorable harvest basket block. Love all the colors. I fill my harvest basket with basic vegetables when I order groceries - LOL I haven't made a tuna sandwich in long time, but I am a huge fan of chicken salad sandwiches - big YUM I use either sliced bread or croissants. Enjoy your evening!!! Big Hugs, DarleneJ

    ReplyDelete
  7. My hubby likes to combine a can of tuna and a can of salmon together to make tuna salad. It is pretty good! No garden for me, I live in town and have no room for a garden. I do remember how good things were fresh from my Mom's garden growing up. So yummy and I miss it!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your tuna sandwich sounds yummy, Melisa! I love your basket block, too - so pretty. Looking forward to seeing those summer stamps! I'm starting to think about my garden - I always plant a couple tomatoes and some cucumbers. Looking forward to seeing things grow!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Tomatoes and yellow beans this summer in our 2 garden boxes. I make tuna melts. Using a wrap, add shredded cheese to half, tuna(your way), more cheese then fold and fry on both sides....delicious with side salad and you get your daily needs of protein also. Thank you so much, love all your posts. I read them everyday. vivian

    ReplyDelete
  10. We love tuna sandwiches also but ours are pretty bland compared to yours. ;-)
    No garden this year as we will be traveling and no one to take care of it on a regular basis. I hope to next year. A least a tomato or two. Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your Harvest Basket block looks fabulous, Melisa. I love a good tuna sandwich. I hope your garden in 2026 is a great producer. No garden here in our holler! I would toss the tuna or salmon with pasta, chopped veggies, some black olives with a drizzle of olive oil or ranch dressing.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your harvest basket looks great. You definitely harvested a few strips from stash! LOL We will have a couple tomato plants as well as maybe a squash or two in our garden.--TerryK@OnGoingProjects

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hola mi bella amiga meli que gusto saber de ti. leerte me encanta y sobre todo para ver estas bellezas!!! me encantan los bloques de acolchado y SE qu eal final quedara algo estupendo!!! y sobre todo me tiene intrigada los sellos que tienes sobre la mesa de costura.......... imagino que son nuevos y NO se .. pero me muero por verlos jajjaa Mil besos y abrazo fuerte con mi cariño de siempre
    Tu amiga
    Dianet de parchesdeamor

    ReplyDelete
  14. Isn't it just so fun to reach into the stash and pull out just the perfect fabrics for our projects! I hope for lots and lots of cucumbers and tomatoes from our teeny garden!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Melisa I have done all the seasons. I believe they were all brown borders. Is the summer going to be bordered in blue? Carol

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm not a huge fan of tuna, but your salad sounds good! Enjoy. Your blocks are really cute too!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Can’t wait to see your new stamp collection! I know it will be just as adorable as the others. My favorite salmon recipe is Sweet and Spicy Peach Glazed Salmon. I got it off of Pinterest. It is beyond delicious. Peach season is coming soon!! yum!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Your sandwich sounds right up my alley. Yum on the jalapenos! I saw some candied jalapenos at the store yesterday and almost bought them. Someone served them as a dip on cream cheese in 2013 and I never forgot how good it was. My tummy pays the price, but oh my. Your LP basket is beautiful, as are all your blocks! I need to play catch up this week.
    I know that sweet cucumber relish is yummy - one of my favorite things. I have 3 tomatoes and a rosemary plant, along with zinnia, marigold, and dill seeds to plant. I also want a sweet pepper plant. Good luck with your harvests!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I am planning to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini this year. I haven’t planted vegetables in a couple of years, so I am looking forward to this year. The harvest basket is lovely. I love all the blocks in this quilt and your color choices. This is going to be a special quilt. Have a great day, Alicia

    ReplyDelete
  20. What green thumb I have gets washed clean for stitching but I am trying for marigolds and daisies (my favorite!) from seed packs. Apparently I’m WAY behind schedule according to the instructions on the back. Of well, I’ll just keep hoping!! My DH has a seafood allergy so no tuna or salmon but I used to make a delicious tuna casserole. Canned tuna, cream of mushroom soup, extra mushrooms, frozen peas and elbow macaroni. Mix and bake. Easy peasy!! Just fully finished (framing by us!) my version of “Summer Delivery” by Plum Street Samplers and catching up on the Fox and Rabbit SAL so I can get to your Spring Green Saltbox before summer gets here. Then three more patriotic theme projects before July. Hmmmm better get to it huh!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Everything you shared today is just lovely. The Little House Sew-a-long blocks are so pretty with all its scrappiness and I love the Farm Life stitch your working on. We plan on pretty much the same veggies in our garden as ladt year - green beans (or rather purple green beans), tomatoes of lots of different sizes and colors, summer squashes - zucchini and crookneck, some winter squash, peppers, and who knows what else will look good at the garden store. I'm hoping for some flower addition to the beds this year, too. The pictures of your garden looks like you & Mr. P have very green thumbs.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Melissa, I love your tiny houses and I can’t wait to see all of your Summer Stamps. I just know I am going to want to stitch them all💕!

    ReplyDelete

  23. Good day to you all in this site, my name is Maris Paul I want to write about my great Doc who put the smile on my face again I was just hopeless when my family doctor told me there is no cure to this sickness HSV2, this horrible sickness really stress me out anytime I have outbreak well I very happy to have a normal life again since I meet DR.AFRID who pull me out from this bondage, I was searching for cure in the internet when I found out about this doctor on a lady post that she was cured by him, I email him for help also and explain everything to him, then I was told by him there is cure to HSV 2 and I was so happy deep inside my heart, I requested for medicine that was how he sent it down to me with UPS and I have the cure within 4day, I only take the herbal medicine for just 2 week according to the doc instructed, after everything I book for appointment for test I was so happy when I have my result I was completely cured that is why I am writing this out for people to know there is cure to this sickness you can also email the doctor through DRAFRIDHERBALHOME@GMAIL.COM

    ReplyDelete

Popular Posts

Summer Stamp SAL - " And the Garden Grows" Stamp 1 Freebie