mysteryluvr54's Blog

Back to work
Aug 25, 2007 | 2:44 PM PST

I only asked for good rain once a week during the night to keep thing well watered.  Instead we got some heavy storms going through.  The ground was saturated and my carrots were practically swimming.   We lost power one evening and so the basement partial flooded before we got the extension cords out and plugged into my neighbor 2 doors down and now we also have a leak in the roof.  This was a repeat of last Aug. and now we have purchased a small generator to keep the sump pump going.  Luckily we didn't lose any trees but the storm did knock over some of my pots. 

When things finally dried out I had to pick all the carrots and save only the one that didn't turn to mush from the hot, soggy ground.  Pepper plants are still hangin in there and if this heat continues we should have some peppers.  The tomato plant is still producing tomatoes and flowers.  I'll take as many as I can.   The apple trees are full, but not quite ready for pickin.   Looking forward to applesauce, apple crisp and smoked sausage with sauerkraut and apples, etc. 

Work and school for me have started up again, so I won't have too much time to spend in the yard on the week days.  Sniff, sniff.  

Rain, rain and more rain
Aug 19, 2007 | 6:31 PM PST

They're predicting rain all week long, too.  Lots of mosquitos!  I almost hate to go out to the garden or work around the yard there so bad.  Thank goodness I don't have to stand out there and water.  Did some trimming and weeding, but was getting eatin alive, so I stopped.   I need to get the pea plants out, but that will have to wait, too. 

Used some of the tomatoes and peppers for salsa.  Delish!   Also used some slices on our burgers along with the homegrown lettuce.  Made a coleslaw with the carrots and parsley from the garden.  

Final got the pictures straightened out.
Aug 11, 2007 | 2:41 PM PST

It's been pretty hot and humid around here, which is driving me nuts cause I love to be outside.  We have been getting some much needed rain, so for that I can't complain and after all it is August.  2 more weeks  and work & school start back up for me.  Where did the time go?  I know. . . spent gardening, taking pictures, reading, teaching and getting to know nature better. 

I had some alone time today, so I've spent it deleting the blank picutures and re-uploading the ones that were missing.  Boy, I hope that never happens again.  Thank goodness I hadn't deleted my pics off my hard drive after putting them on a disc.  I was debating doing that, too.  My folks enjoyed watching them on the CD I sent.  

I've been freezing & we're still eating from our garden.  The tomatoes are ripening.  I'll just freeze some for soups & sauces and if I can get 4 ripe at the same time along with the peppers, I'll make some salsa.  

We are losing one of our apple trees and I don't want to replace it with another, so I've been trying to come up with ideas for that spot.  It will get  full sun, which I don't have in pretty much of the rest of the yard now.  We have those nice bricks around the tree and I want to put them to good use,  so I'm thinking maybe a herb garden.  I like the pots and they can be brought inside during the winter, but it might be a nice spot for perennial herbs mixed flowers.  Just an idea.  Have till next spring to figure that out. 

I was looking into investing in another tree.  One that is free of fruits, nuts or seeds.  (with a crab apple and 2 apple trees I'm tired of raking & stepping in apple mush)  I was shown a pretty tree and a fast grower called Maple Autumn Blaze.   As I was driving home I thought. . . hum, why not save a maple tree that's growing around the house from one of  those whirlybird seeds.   So I went under the bushes in the back near my neighbors Maple tree and found me a good start on a Maple.  I planted it in a pot, so we'll see what happens.  Hey, a lot cheaper than $600.  If it doesn't make it there are plenty more where it came from and there's always next spring when the whirlybirds fly. 

Well, after all this business with the pictures I need to take a break and get some fresh, humid air.   I think August is the worst of the 12 months right there behind February.