The green beans and garden peas are only a memory until a jar is opened or brought from the freezer. I worked on summer squash and kale for the freezer this morning. Everything grew so nice this year and seemed to be spread out for harvest time that is was not overwhelming picking and putting up. Some years everything seems to pop at once and by the end of the season we are saying......smaller garden next year. Not so this summer, we are actually planning bigger and more care friendly. The bailed square bales worked great for the rutabagas and spaghetti squash. Next year the cucumbers will be added to the bale garden. We came up with the idea of putting the winter squash in a long narrow strips. Let them run away and no going into the other vegetable rows. Every year we think, there they are far enough apart and every year they just spread farther. We'll fix them!!
Looks like the corn is doing great but that could change with the weather. Rain is predicted for Wednesday, we sure need a couple good soaker days. Clara Creek could use quite a bit. The lawn has gone brown dormant from lack of rain but that is usually what happens in August. The nights have been cool with a breeze which is great for a good nights sleep around here. The coyotes have also been quiet but they will soon make the circle back around one of these nights.
I sat on the deck relaxing while Dick put the stain on. It was one of those days that it felt like fall just around the corner. The cherry trees are dropping their leaves and with the soft breeze they were floating softly to the ground. What a peaceful moment, like watching snow flakes float down in the winter.
And so it begins......the back deck, 49 boards, 14 steps to grind the 4 layers of stain and paint off. The front porch looks great, took about a week so I am estimating the back deck will take 2 weeks if the weather and heat cooperates. Not looking at the big picture. As of now all steps are done and new stain along with 14 deck boards. Going to be too hot for the next couple days but maybe evenings will cool off enough to do a few boards. I love the new look and the porch rails are all painted. Thanks to Mugs Jones for recommending Behr porch and deck paint....I got the high gloss and it is amazing with coverage and the gloss finish. The dusty road we have put up with does not stick to it. If it does we take the air hose and blow it off. Simple solutions :) I love them. Clara Rd has now been resurfaced and the dust has been much less. Hoping in another week there will be no dust. Dick is the stain and paint guy and I am the grinder. For some reason all of my life I like to work outside and with power tools. If I was as strong as a guy there would be no stopping on the tools I could use! Maybe watching my dad do so many things, who knows, I am just one odd gal!
