September 6, 2008: No More Whining!

I got my whining off my chest in yesterday's blog. I'm in a much better mood today, thanks to Sinfonian, who made me realize I'm not the only one who is bored with my garden right now. And it really isn't that bad. I did give my neighbor, Pat, three lovely crookneck squash, a perfect zucchini, two cucumbers and three tomatoes yesterday, and she gave me a big bunch of sage for drying. I also snipped a big handful of fresh chives for the butter & sour cream mixture for our baked potatoes last night. They were delicious! Mr. Husband doesn't like real baked potatoes, he says they are too dry, so I chunked up some carrots into the bottom of my new small crockpot, seasoned them and added a tablespoon of water, then I put two foil wrapped new Yukon Gold potatoes on top, put on the cover and let them cook all day. They came out firm and moist, with a wonderful fresh flavor. A small dab of butter on the carrots made them quite tasty, too.

This morning I picked enough green beans, from the old patch, for tonight's dinner, along with two more little crooknecks and a big bowl of cherry tomatoes. And greens! Just look at all the mesclun, red leaf lettuce, beet greens and carrot thinnings! That should please my spoiled rabbit.




Yes, autumn is closing in on me quickly, but there is still so much life in the garden. There's the new life. Seedlings of lettuce, carrots and spinach are popping up out of the ground. The carrots will never mature before it's time to close the garden and head to Arizona, but the rabbit will appreciate the tender young greens.

The new bush beans will be producing soon.

Where will the ski pole beans go from here? I've already added the neighbor's broomstick!

If the warm weather holds, I'll have an abundance of tomatoes.

And a few peppers.

Even though powdery mildew has taken a toll on the summer squash plants, they are still producing.

And this little fellow is helping!

Alas, powdery mildew has also struck one of the cucumber plants.

But it isn't affecting the cucumbers.

Mr. Husband installed the new kitchen faucet that I had purchased yesterday, and he had a bit of help. And I've heard of "plumber's crack", but how about "plumber's belly"? He's been awfully helpful lately.....do you think he feels guilty about the board fight?