New storage pantry!!

Since Not Quite Grown loudly objects to me turning her Shabby Chic bedroom into a pantry, I used the last day of my steroid-fueled energy to finally outfit the closet under the garage stairs into a canning and storage pantry! (Was that one of the longest sentences I've written in awhile??)

I didn't take any pictures of the "before", but it pretty much was a dumping ground for pictures that had no home in the house, and a galvanized trash can to keep mousies from the bagged dog food.

I used mostly recycled wire shelving from other closet projects, bought one 6-foot shelf, and brought a three shelf rack up from the shop. The closet is long and skinny, so pictures are kind of choppy!

Top, looking straight in. Note to self: Get more TP.

Trash cans hold dog food and a 50 pound bag of rice.

Looking around the corner into the back of the closet.

It's great to be able to see all the produce I put up this summer (so far!) This shelf holds four kinds of pickles, beets (need more!), four kinds of tomato products, and apples. I think next year, I don't need to plant pickling cucumbers or any more tomatoes than I can eat fresh!!

Rack holds food grade plastic bins of sugar and flour, plus extra canning jars.

I'm so happy with my new storage area!!

*****

I have spared you all the reports of Sassy's little poop-fest this week, but I think I have figured out what she's been eating out of the backyard. It's just that I don't know what it is!

She went zooming out to this particular tree this afternoon and starting sniffing around the ground excitedly.





On the ground, I found a pinkish-orange fruit, about the size of a golf ball.



Inside,the flesh was soft and orange with large, flat, brown seeds, much like watermelon seeds. These matched (exactly) the decorations on the piles I picked up in Sassy's private corner of the yard!



So, anyone know what this is?? It smells sweet, but not anything I recognize. Is it something I can eat?? Or do I need to cut the tree down to keep it from killing my dogs??

Any suggestions welcome!!

Edit: I think I have identified this tree as a variety of persimmon!! Now to figure out what to make with all the fruit!