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| The grape leaf test batch. Let ya know in a couple months if they are crispy. |
Unfortunately by the looks of our cucumber vines we may not get many more cukes. It looks like a vine blight is setting in and also on the squash and pumpkin vines. For all the rain we had in the spring and right up to a few weeks ago the ground is dry, creeks are very low and the garden is suffering! The corn popped beautiful ears of corn but the fear of no rain has the leaves curled tight. That means no moisture the kernels will not develop. This itty bitty farm has me worried about something quite a bit. From the garden to a lame horse, chicken stalkers or equipment break downs there is always something to do. I am thankful for the veggies we harvested so far, the 14 of 17 Australorps hens we raised (fox, coyote or Red Tailed Hawk took 3 for their young ones). Dick fenced in an area for them until they get bigger, older and wiser.
The end of summer is being felt with a few reminders all around. In service for teachers and aides started today and will be a couple days a week until the students first day back. It sure has been a quick vacation for them! The hills are getting a yellow tinge, nights are cooler, the sun is hot but the breezes seem to have that cool affect. Usually in September I clean out the side flower bed but for some reason the plants all died off early so yesterday I cleaned them out and got it ready for mulch. The dahlias are still going strong with many beautiful deep red blossoms. We planted 50 gladiolas this spring, 3 had blossoms! Never again, I refuse to waste my time and money on things that don't like our soil. I like plants that come up every year rather than buy and plant every year. You know perennials and annuals technically speaking.
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| Dahlias will blossom until the first frost. Then we dig the roots to store in the basement. In the spring Dick will divide the tubors, plant some and give some away. Pass it On ♡♡♡♡ |
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| Poppies are nearing the end of their life. The large pods will turn brown and we will gather the seeds to give away. The seeds that fall will come up next spring. |
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| This is what our garden and flower beds look like. Since we have a well precious water is not used for watering. Only humans and animals get to drink. |
The rhubarb has been healthy and plentiful and supplied a few families with pies and jams this spring/summer. When the rhubarb plant gets the seed stalk started I cut it off before it can develop that way we have rhubarb to pick all summer. Too much nutrition goes to the seed stalk which stops new rhubarb from sprouting. Kinda like dead heading flowers so they will continue to have lots of blossoms.
This afternoon was time to rest, even a 2 hour nap. We are getting ready to sand the hardwood floor (28 x 26) with a hallway tomorrow. For the last 10 days I have been chemically removing the polyurethane finish. Yes on my hands and knees, there is no easy way to get it done. If ya want to save $ it is do it yourself. My personality does not allow for dissatisfaction if I'm not happy with the job if we hired it done. This way I can take the blame for being an amateur. The wood is not damaged so we really didn't want to use a drum sander, it is way too aggressive and takes quite a bit of wood. So tomorrow we rent the orbital sander for a quick smoothing. We have been reading all we can about the best finishes to use. The "old fashioned" way wins. Several articles are saying many contractors are going back to tung oil with a coat of paste wax. Easier, environment friendly and if the floor dulls or gets scratched it's a quick fix. We shall see and I will "pass it on" from start to finish with pictures.
