Well- it finally happened. The first frost.
In preparation, we took a "HARVESTING DAY" off of school yesterday to clear the gardens of all the frost-tender
plants. Though, in truth, our start of school as been a bit "sputtering".
I can't say I am sorry to see it coming. I am finally ready for the
slower pace of fall- or at the very least- the same pace but a different
focus of my time and energies than on garden/canning chores. The
fast-paced focus now will be on schoolishness. (In an effort to thwart
foolishness.)
It is a funny feeling though- knowing that when our supply of
fresh tomatoes and cucumbers are no more we probably won't be having
anymore until next year and feeling disappointed by it. All of a
sudden, after a good month of being overwhelmed by cucumbers and
tomatoes, wishing they would "JUST DIE ALREADY!" switches to "oh no- I
won't have fresh tomatoes to eat!" It's all very schizophrenic.
Along with the vegetables and tomatoes, we cut mounds of flowers and
have vases (sometimes several) in every room in the house. A season
without fresh flowers is a long and dreary season indeed. Must
enjoy these last beauties. My morning glories just nicely started
blooming! And my zinnia patch is so gorgeous.
SO cut, cut cut. Grumble, Grumble, Grumble.
While some of the plants I am happy to see die (sort of) one patch that I
am NOT ready to part with is the watermelon patch. It is full of
beautiful large watermelons- that are not quite ripe! The problem with
watermelons is that they do not ripen off the vine so if they die, they
die. And they don't like frost. :-(
I was already to just give it up last night. But I couldn't. (Big surpise.)
Despite
the fact that Matt is out of town so I didn't actually go to bed until
after 1am, I dutifully got up well before dawn and sprayed the
watermelons down with the hose. And since I was already up- I did the
marigolds and zinnias too. And the morning glories.
Maybe I can have a few more flower bouquets after all.
Meanwhile- my kitchen and mudroom are in a state of emergency.
Still in the garden:
potatoes
cabbage
swiss chard
collards
parsnips
turnips
carrots
lettuce
12 comments:
Your harvest pictures are beautiful!!! We got our first frost last night, too. Fall is my favorite time of year but I'm not ready for summer to be over!
I just wanted to let you know that I look forward to and really enjoy reading your blog. It is the highlight of my crazy days many days.
Yipes! It's hard to imagine living in an area that gets frost this early! Down here I just discovered a volunteer morning glory and am so excited to see it quickly taking over an otherwise bare fence. No chance of frost down her to hold it back!
I think your kitchen loves beautiful! I love a full kitchen ready to be worked in. Okay I like it in YOUR kitchen. Haha...I have a basketful of tomatoes and peppers that need to be canned ASAP but time is such a huge factor these days.
I just love your pictures, by the way. You are always such an encouragement to me. :)
Oh my! Look at all that fresh produce and thoes gorgeous flowers! I especially love that blue on the glories. Rooms filled with flowers. Ahhh... lovely! Our roses here in Texas are doing great now that the droughts over.
Christina
Leah T.~ What is crazy is that people just over the hill from us didn't even GET a frost! It took me a LONG time to be ready for Fall but I have finally gotten there. :-)
Megan- and I just want to let YOU know that I really appreciate you taking the time to write such kind words to me. I *love* to hear it. Thank you!
Anna- Aren't morning glories glorious?! May yours live long and prosper. ;-) (And mine was saved by the hose. yay!)
Miranda- admiring the work in MY kitchen, eh? Yes- I totally get it. I do the same thing. And yes- time is at a minimum these days...but I see things slowing down soon and for that I am grateful. It may even slow down enough to (gasp!) finally write you a letter! I have not forgotten. Promise.
Christina- ohhhhh- ROSES. I miss the roses! Trade you a watermelon and some tomatoes for a rose or two? If only...
oooh, that second picture - I want to be there with a book and a mug of something piping hot -
and the sixth photo - miss adele' - swoon!
so much lovely.
b in va
Beth- brrrrrrrrr! That would be chilly!
You have pumpkins!!! Mine didn't make it - but I love seeing yours :) I wasn't able to have a big garden this year, but I got a great price on san marzano tomatoes and canned 35 qts and froze another 5 or so...so much better tasting than the commercial tomatoes, and so much less costly!! We had a frost warning the other night - and I arrived home from the office at midnight...so I but down most of my remaining herbs by moonlight - LOL. Currently drying armfulls of spearmint, basil, thyme, sage...the spare bedroom smells heavenly :)
Kathy- you are a true diehard! To go out after a long day at work and pick herbs at midnight! I bet the smell alone was worth it!
Your harvest is amazing - so colorful!
The sad thing is that your harvest pictures are making me wistful. Already?! It was only a month ago I was begging for all the canning to be done!
I'm leaving such a bucketload of comments all at once that Blogger is having me jump through extra hoops to prove I'm not a spam-bot. Sorry if I've posted some double comments.
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