Flavors of Fall

How big are you, now?
"I'm THIS big!"

 

Running shoes on and ready to enjoy some crisp mornings!

When can I play?

Don't forget to DECORATE!

Outside, too!

160 banana peppers reaped, prepped, and frozen!



a taste of summer

How about just a plate of tri-colored bell peppers for lunch?

or dinner?

Personally, I think this is so much better than popcorn kebabs!

or marshmallow skewers!

Party menus are on my mind.

Party food is on the menu.

I am sitting here planning a special family celebration.

No surprises.  No gigantic parties.  No gags.

My wonderful husband will soon be celebrating a birthday... a big ONE.

like the big FIVE-OH.

I cannot believe it.

As I am sure he cannot believe it, as well.

He looks great for being two weeks shy of 50.

He looks young.  He acts young.  He thinks young.  Hell, he is young!

I wonder what he will look like in two more weeks!?

And just think, he will be 50 for two weeks before his third girl is born.

Unless, she graces us with early presence.

Ahhhh, the big FIVE-OH.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary - How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells.

And pretty maids all in a row.

The garden has been planted:

okra

 (it's a southern slimy vegetable thing)

jalapenos

bell peppers

banana peppers

roma tomatoes

eggplant

cucumbers

The trees are blooming:

fig

peach

apple

The vines are growing:

grapes

I.LOVE.SPRING.TIME!

Compost or Bust!

We compost. Not the fancy-schmancy kind of composting. We did not purchase an expensive compost bin or dirt or worms.

We compost naturally. Organically. Greenly.

We dug a hole in our garden and began throwing in peels from fruits and vegetables. Only!

If you build it, worms will come. The worms are extremely FAT. And no expenses were incurred.

If you build it, bugs will come. And other creatures.

Every morning, Victoria and I go outside looking for clues. Usually the cantaloupe rinds are twenty feet away from the compost pile. The apple cores are missing. The celery stalks have also disappeared. The potato ends remain (creature does not like raw potatoes).

We do know that it is not our cats. The cats prefer the good stuff. Not garbage food. And, Victoria deduced that it cannot be a rat family -- unless it is an extremely large rat. I am hoping it is not a rat family!

Last night, as we were cleaning up the backyard, the cats became very quiet and slowly started to creep toward the garden. We also stood frozen in our tracks for no real reason - just following the cats.

The mystery is solved!

We discovered the animal that is living under our deck and feeding off the compost pile... a cute, lonely, 'possum named Spunky!