Sunday, October 21, 2012

Sunday, Good Day

I slept in a bit this morning so didn't get as bright and early a start to the day as I had planned.  But that's okay since the day itself wasn't as bright as I had expected it to be.  Not much sunshine to speak of, but since I had Papa Pea's promise to help cleaning up the garden, out we went.

We got rained on three times, I think, before we gave it up saying we had accomplished enough for the day. 

I couldn't have done as much without his help, that's for sure.

We dug out cornstalks and laid them to rest in a compost bin.  The 10' tall sunflowers (yep, the very same ones with the huge seed heads that didn't even come close to maturing) were whacked down with a machete.  It was either that or the chainsaw.  Most of the stalks were a minimum of 3-1/2" to 4" in diameter.  I'll never plant that variety again.  Anyone in a kinder, gentler climate with a longer growing season want over half a 1 oz. packet of Mammoth Sunflower seeds?  Speak up and I'll gladly send them along to you.

We took cold frames apart and stored them until spring when we'll haul them out again to get a jump start on early planting.

Cattle panels that were used as trellises for shell peas and pole beans and sugar pod peas were untied from their supports and taken to their winter resting places.

Pumpkin and squash vines were pulled and dragged across garden and yard to be unceremoniously tossed into the compost bin.  Ever been slapped in the face with wet, half-rotted pumpkin vines while trying to manhandle them into a three foot high bin?  It's an experience to be treasured, trust me.


When we came in, I started a huge skillet full of a ground beef/noodle dish we like a lot.  I usually make it when we have company and we still have oodles for leftovers.  But with just the two of us attacking it tonight, we'll be eating it for several days!


Once I got dinner simmering, I picked up stitches for the first sleeve of this simple sweater I started quite a while ago.  I didn't have the correct sized double pointed needles and just finally got them on Friday.  I plan on wearing this sweater over a turtleneck for a little extra warmth on an every day basis this winter so with luck I may have it finished just in time.

We both really exerted in the garden today so a good dinner and laid back evening ahead of us sounds very appealing.

You would think cleaning up the garden at the end of the season would be an easy-peasy, slap-dash project, not nearly as muscle-stretching or intensive as planting in the spring, but it's not.  Anyone who pictures me working in the garden with pristine, flower-printed gardening gloves, a flowing skirt and straw hat bedecked with ribbons needs to think again.  Even though our temperature when working outside today was only in the upper 40s, we both were shedding layers of clothing, rain or no rain.  Our morning's application of deodorant disappeared somewhere between the sunflowers and cattle panels and the mud on our boots made us look like Big Foot on a rampage.  

But ya know what?  The tired we feel tonight is that good tired that will precede a sound night's sleep.  So that we can get up tomorrow morning, and rain or shine, have another good day on the homestead.  

30 comments:

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

Sounds like you got a lot accomplished today. That is great. Makes that time in the quilt room come even faster. At first when I saw that picture of the pasta dish I thought it was tripe. Yuck. You can tell I am married to an Italian as that dish shows up often at gatherings. It scares me. The tripe, not your nice pasta dish :)

Tombstone Livestock said...

Have a good quiet evening working on your sweater and relaxing.

Carolyn said...

Slapped upside the head from a decomposing, wet pumpkin leaf.....what gratitude for caring for it this horrible growing season!

A hard day's work sure feels good....when it's finally finished!

beth said...

That dinner there looks like MY KIND of meal! I'm going to put that in my recipe box RIGHT now! Enjoy your evening. ;)

DFW said...

Sounds like a great weekend. You don't know until you've put a garden to bed, just how difficult it can be. Chores, chores.

Can you please teach me how to knit? That sweater looks lovely.

I think the sunflowers I planted were also Mammoth and they didn't produce either. And, I live in a long growing climate. I just thought it was because I didn't fertilize them.

Leigh said...

Are those black olives that I spy in that casserole? Dan loves black olives so this looks like one to try. Sounds like you've got your winter garden chores done. I know that's gotta be a good feeling.

Mama Pea said...

Jane - I remember I had an uncle who liked tripe. I can't even remember what it is . . . intestines? Part of the stomach? Double yuck, I say!

Mama Pea said...

Tombstone Livestock - I wanted to knit all evening. And I also wanted to get caught up on some of my blog reading and commenting. So where did that leave me? Not feeling I did enough of either! Whadda dilemma!

Mama Pea said...

CR - I guess the pumpkin vines didn't wanna go in the compost bin. ;o}

And you got it right . . . hard work feels best when it's done! (Methinks you put in one of those days also. Right?)

Mama Pea said...

Beth - I hope the Tagliarini recipe works for you! Hope you had a good Sunday evening, too.

Mama Pea said...

DFW - I'd be glad to sit on the couch next to you and teach you how to knit. Let's do it! (If only, eh?)

Maybe it was just a bad sunflower summer? Anybody out there have a fantastic crop?

Mama Pea said...

Leigh - Yep, black olives they be! We're both black olive lovers, too. I also like green ones but hubby runs the other way when he sees one.

Oh, Leigh, if only I DID have all the winter garden chores done. Even after our efforts today, there are more to be done out there. Hoping the weather holds out a little longer . . . :o}

Sparkless said...

Sounds like you both got a lot done today. I got sidetracked so many times today I didn't get half of what I planned to do done. I guess there is always tomorrow.

Sue said...

We've had endless rain since returning home. I am woefully (don't you LOVE that word?) behind on everything , because the 2 (TWO!!!!() days of sun we have had, I've been galavanting all over the place taking in the fall foliage. I know what's going to happen, I'm going to be doing this stuff when it's 18 degrees out and a light snow........
On a bright note--with all the rain --ALL my indoor fall cleaning is done. The windows sparkle, the floors shine. Yea--I'll shut up now!
LOL!!

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear you were able to get some of the garden "put to bed", despite the rain. Sounds like you had a perfect evening, and I love the color of that yarn for your sweater :)

Susan said...

I got a good laugh out of the image of you in a flower/ribbon bedecked gardening hat! It's tough work out there -- I had forgotten about that wonderful one-pan dinner. I think I may have to make it next weekend. That will keep me in dinner/lunch all week! Will we be seeing the modeling of that sweater???

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

Usually the first few stomaches of cow, or other animals. Blech!!!

Jenyfer Matthews said...

LOL - you are putting your garden to bed and I just planted about 40 strawberry plants that a friend donated to me. Fingers crossed they will make it through the winter!

Mama Pea said...

Sparkless - Yep, ya gotta watch out for that old sidetracking element! It'll getcha every time.

Mama Pea said...

Sue - I know exactly what you mean about being outside in awful, terrible, bad weather finishing up stuff that should have been done a month previously! I think we've all been there, done that at least once!

So, since the inside of YOUR house is all spit polished and shiny, when can I expect you to arrive here to demonstrate how to do it?? Hee-hee.

Mama Pea said...

Stephanie - The only thing wrong with last evening was that it was over too soon! I can hardly wait for the coming winter days when it's too, too cold to go outside and I'm all caught up inside so I can sit in front of the fire and knit for hours! (Am I hallucinating again?)

Mama Pea said...

Susan - Yeah, take a picture of me in the garden and you wouldn't be able to tell it wasn't Martha herself. (Pshaw!)

The modeling of the sweater? I'll see if I can get Papa Pea to model it for you. (Oh my. That would be scary.)

Mama Pea said...

Jen - If they have enough time to put down their roots before the ground freezes I'm sure they'll make it with no problem. I'll cross my fingers for you, too!

Jenyfer Matthews said...

Supposed to rain tonight and be up near 70F all week :)

Mama Pea said...

Jen - Perrr-FECT!

Dash Interiors said...

That looks yummy well just found your blog and I am totally LOVING it!! Keep up the awesome work excited to be a regular here.
Your new friend,
XOX
Ash@ABpetite
http://abpetite.blogspot.com/

Karen L. said...

Just popped in quickly to tell you that your sweater is beautiful. And it's my favorite color .... so if it is a size small (or even medium), you could whip up another and sell it to me. HA! Well, I don't knit but I do crochet so maybe I had better do one for myself.

Mama Pea said...

Ashlee Christopher - Welcome and thanks for commenting! You seem to be a great cook (by seeing what you post on your blog) so I'm glad you think my Tagliarini looks good to you!

Mama Pea said...

Karen L. - Well, if my sweater comes out too small for me, I'll know just where to send it!! Knitting has always seemed easier to me than crocheting . . . so maybe you ought to by a pair of needles and give it a try!

Erin said...

That skillet meal looks delicious. I finally started knitting a sweater, I hope I have the patience to finish it!