:: Our weather has been WONDERFUL. Also very, very fall-like. Never getting more than into the lower 70s these days, but perfect for any outside work.
:: Haven't had any appreciable rain in about three weeks. Things are starting to dry out because of the lovely breezes we've had. I'm having to water the garden, but it will take a good, soaking, natural rain to encourage crops to mature.
:: We've been involved in a roofing project that we hadn't planned on which is causing havoc with both the financial budget and the time budget. Roofing is a physically taxing, dirty job.
:: We're both having a little trouble getting a good night's rest because of sore knees, sore backs and pesky leg cramps. We're taking all the recommended supplements for keeping cramps at bay, but I'm sure it's just the strained muscles that are complaining. (Better to wear out than to rust out??)
:: As we continue to try to squeeze in our wood working, we are so appreciative of this cooler weather. In a normal year, wood working in August would be so hot as to be nearly unbearable.
:: Our blueberries and raspberries are ripe for the picking every other day now. Oh, how I do love fresh picked raspberries in a bowl with a mixture of cream and milk. Papa Pea would say the same about blueberries.
:: This cooler weather that feels so much like fall has me itching to get into my quilt room. The funny thing is that at night when I have an hour or two before bedtime, I'm so pooped I don't even feel like quilting. Now that's sad!
:: It's so rare that I am dressed in anything but old, sloppy, nearly worn out, gardening and outside work clothes these days. When my dear husband's clothes get to looking bad, he chooses not to wear them any longer. Not so with his anything but glamorous, fashion-conscious wife. I kinda feel sorry for him having to look at me every day.
:: The shell peas and beans in the garden are acting like contrary teenagers and are refusing to grow because I'm looking at them so much. I have beets I could pull and process for the freezer but I want to defrost and clean out the freezers before I do that. And I keep waiting for a rainy day for that project. I should probably just do it, and then it would be done. (How's that for a profound statement?)
:: Even though many indicators are pointing to an early start to the fall season for us here in northern Minnesota, I'm still hoping it will be a long one. It's such a beautiful time of year no matter how you choose to spend it.
EOL
8 hours ago
20 comments:
I have to agree that any roofing job is the WORST. Especially when "we" are not quite as flexible as we used to be... Fall is my absolutely favorite time of year. I seem to have more go in my giddy-up. BTW, I put defrosting freezers right up there with roofing.
I can't imagine not needing to water. We have to water almost daily here, depending on the plants. Our berries have croaked in the heat. But we hold out hope for more strawberries as the weather cools in September. While I love fall, I want my green beans to grow more right now!
I had to chuckle - I dress like you do - my gardening clothes every day unless I go to town.
Isn't this weather incredible? I can't get over how lovely it is out there. I just came in to cook lunch---at 3:30---cuz we're completely losing track of time.
Next week is grandson time. Oh boy--I need my vitamins-LOL! So , I'll be absent for a week--I didn't forget ya--just BUSY!
Mama Pea,
My husband and I use this product called Natural Calm. You can pick it up in Wal-Mart or any pharmacy. It's powdered magnesium that you mix with water and take a couple of times a day. We've noticed it helps with our arthritis pain, cramps, and muscle spasms. The doctor recommended it and it's all natural, this maybe of interest to you.
Are you using knee pads while up on the roof?
They do give some relief.
I'm a little jealous, I love berries. I wish I had blueberries, raspberries, black berries. I have strawberries, but nothing else has bloomed.
This time of year we are usually in the 100 degree temperatures and it's very hot out. The weather has been strange, it's 85 today and the humidity is about the same. It poured yesterday, and is beautiful today.
I have been planting fall roots and greens as the weather has been right for it. Maybe an early fall this year.
Best get the roof fix while it's not leaking. I lived a long, long story about leaking roofs, when I moved here I saw small leak, had professionals come out and reroof the whole house, was not going thru another long story on this house.
Susan - Actually, I don't mind defrosting freezers. When it's all done, I feel very organized. And frost-free. (Hee-hee.)
2 Tramps - Aren't we humans strange? Many people can't imagine living where I do with such a short growing season and winter 7 months of the year. I can't imagine how you survive in the heat and dryness you have to deal with. I guess that's why we're all not congregated in one small (super-crowded!) area!
Sue - I know, the weather is so delightful you just don't want to spend any more time inside than you absolutely have to.
Get ready, Grandma! The little one is coming and you know he'll keep you going about 18 hours a day. Have fun (I know you will) and we'll be waiting for your return.
Sandy - Thank you so much for the very helpful info. I will definitely look for some Natural Calm especially since you say it's all natural.
Yep, we use knee pads which do help. It's not so bad. The knees are very tender at the end of the day, but after several hours rest, they feel okay again.
Glad to hear you're not getting the 100 degree temps this year. 85 is plenty warm sounding to me!
Sunnybrook Farm - I have some fall lettuces and Swiss chard in the ground but want to do some more fall planting. Don't know if it will be worth it, but we have to try, don't we?
Tombstone Livestock - We, too, have lived through leaky roofs and it's one of the most frustrating situations to be in. Luckily, this job we did wasn't because of a leak, but once we got into it we found the roof was in worse shape than we had thought. The whole roof replacement (ugh) is now on the list for next summer.
Here in Indiana we're having cool weather too. It's great for planting the fall crops and picking berries. No Mosquitoes and lots of good breezes! Blueberries are just loaded this year. I never heard of freezing beets! How to you process, and then serve them. Love beets, but they never last long enough in the root cellar barrels.
Sorry to hear about the roofing situation :/ Hoping you can get it resolved.
It's turned chilly here too, for a few days, and finally after almost no rain for a month, we are due to have 3 days of it. Good thing too because we have pretty much used up all the stuff in the rain barrels.
Early (extremely uncommon!) early fall weather for us here in SC too....and I wish every day could feel like this! Low humidity and 70s. Think we're setting new record "lows". The older I get the more the heat and humidity bother me. Good luck with your projects!
PS do you think the early fall and cooler weather will mean a longer and more severe winter? That's what we've been wondering.
Mama Pea ~~~ do youever can pie filling ? I have a kitchen full of glorious peaches, and am making peach salsa and freezing a few, but would love to have some ready made pie filling canned.
Any ideas? I'v been googling it (of course) but don't want to go out and buy Clear jel.
HELP !!! (Thanks) lol
Trailshome - Back in 2009 I wrote a post detailing how I prepare my beets for freezing. If you want to take a look at it, go down to the Search box on my right hand side bar, enter "freezing beets", and then click on the post, "Puttin' Up Beets." To serve I just plop the portion of frozen beets into boiling water and cook until I'm sure the beets are heated through. Add a little butter and salt . . . mmmm, good!
Stephanie - Glad to say our roofing problem is taken care of!
According to the forecast, next week is to bring us some HOT weather and also some rain. That should make the garden grow!
Lisa - Weather all across the country has been so crazy/wonky that I couldn't hazard a guess as to what we'll all get in the way of weather this winter. It does seem fall weather is coming sooner than usual, but it could still be a long fall, right?
Akannie - I've never canned pie fillings (just frozen them) but I know Leigh over at 5 Acres and a Dream has. You might want to wander over to her site (5acresandadream.com) and check out how she does it.
P.S. I am leaving now to come relieve you of some of those glorious peaches! ;o)
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