Sunday, October 3, 2021

Colors Are Still Lovely, Garden Work Is Not Done

Despite warnings that our autumnal colors would be muted and drab this year because of the summer's drought, I think they're gorgeous.  And they seem to be holding at their peak longer than usual.  But that could just be my wishing it were so.  I know one of these days we'll get a wind storm that will strip most of the leaves off their branches and our scenery will be much different.  In the meantime, I'm very appreciative of nature's fall display.
 

We're still receiving loads of cut and split wood, enough to fill the last tier or so in our make-shift wood shed and then the front half of our small wood shed.
 

Yes, that will block in the back half that still contains wood from a couple of years ago, but we won't have to touch this "new" wood we'll put in front until (at least) the heating season after this coming one.
 

The majority of my time seems to still being spent getting the gardens ready for winter.  I've been cleaning out the raised beds, then Papa Pea hauls wheelbarrows of our lovely, black compost to spread on them.  Next I till it in, rake it smooth and the bed will be in good shape for planting come spring. 
 

This past week I finished weeding the strawberries for the last time (one would hope).  Now all they need is the winter blanket of mulch I'll put on after a couple of hard freezes.
 

I harvested the last cabbage, some green peppers and cucumbers.  
 

I've made all the Stuffed Green Peppers we need so I'll use a couple of these last ones for fresh eating along with chopping the rest of them to freeze and use when a green pepper is called for in a recipe this winter.  Yes, there are a few insect holes in some of them, but I guess those critters have to eat, too.  I'll miss my cukes after these are gone.  Give me a salt shaker and a cucumber and I'll gobble up the whole thing.
 

Our apples (these that are protected in their cage) are looking good, but are not fully matured.  The ones we've sampled still show a tinge of green in the middle, are a bit on the sour side and don't have much "apple" flavor.  Here's hoping we still have enough time for them to make it.
 

I made this apple coffee cake yesterday with windfalls gathered from the ground and, as you can see, it turned out good enough to be deemed edible.
 
That's all from this little homestead for the present.  Hope all of you are staying healthy and happy during this exhilarating time of year. 

16 comments:

Tigger's Mum said...

Apple coffee cake sounds great. Coffee doesn't make it into nearly enough recipes in my view.

Granny Sue said...

You have been busy while we've been gallivanting. I do not miss the wood gathering at all. It was a big part of my life for 35 years but thankfully we no longer have to do that. Your garden looks beautiful, so nice and neat. We still have things growing but have started the clean out. I will sure miss the tomatoes.

Michelle said...

It all looks picture-perfect to me!

Mama Pea said...

Tigger - Haha, no coffee IN the cake but it's sure meant to be eaten with a cup of java as a pleasant addition!

Granny Sue - Garden ripe tomatoes, oh yes! Don't know about in your area, but we can't buy anything that tastes that good around here during the off-season months.

Michelle - Picture perfect? I think not but you're a sweetheart to say so. We've had a rainy weekend so I haven't made any progress out there. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny though so I'll be back at it.

Nancy In Boise said...

Great looking strawberry bed and fall colors!

Susan said...

Doesn't it warm the cockles of your heart to see all that lovely wood stacked up, ready to go! Especially when you don't have to split it. That cabbage is beautiful! I love this time of year, although I'm sad to see the end of fresh tomatoes.

Mama Pea said...

Nancy - Thanks! I can take credit for the strawberries . . . but not the fall colors! ;o)

Susan - I think that's why I enjoy stacking every chunk of wood . . . the warm cockles it produces! I'm partial to red cabbage and they always do well for me. And who wouldn't be sad to see the end of garden fresh tomaters!?

Lisa K Thomasson Jung said...

Cut me a piece of that coffee cake it looks so yummy. Your apple in cages look wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

Mama Pea said...

Lisa K - You're welcome! And your piece of coffee cake is waiting!

wyomingheart said...

You have been a busy one! I feel the same about cucumbers! I am getting sad thinking about not being able to go out a pick a cucumber for simple munching! Least we not forget that green pepper and tomato for breakfast! Your beds are just a delight to see! We are in the thick of persimmon harvest, and just starting the black walnut gathering…you know … the winding down of fall part! Lol ! Have a perfect week!

Mama Pea said...

wyomingheart - I know black walnuts have a bad reputation as far as being hard to process, but I envy you having them to harvest! Our temps haven't gotten as cool so far this fall as we may have expected, but I know once September is gone and we're into October we're getting close winter's real chilliness. (There are no home grown cucumbers in winter!) ;o)

Rosalea said...

Love those beautiful garden pics...all ready for spring! Your produce looks wonderful, especially those apples. What security is embodied in those wood piles, and a piece of apple cake, please.

Mama Pea said...

Rosalea - :o) :o) :o) Oops, cake is all gone. :o(

Katie C. said...

That apple cake sure looks good! 😋 My guy loves anything apple. I’ve been making sugarless applesauce in the slow cooker. I’ve got two batches done so today I will be canning it. Unfortunately, I have to buy my apples. I figure if I can get them for $0.99/pound or less, I come out ahead. I’ll have to get more to make apple butter next.

The only things left in our garden are butternut squash, Anaheim peppers and jalapeños. I’ve cleaned a bunch of the Anaheim’s and put them in the freezer. The rest might go to the local food bank. They are not quite big enough to stuff but we just can’t seem to grow bell peppers. I’m going to try dehydrating some jalapeño slices. I’ve never done that before but I will definitely be doing that out in the car port. I have read that the fumes can be quite harsh.

Mama Pea said...

Katie C. - I'm hoping to get a good supply of apples for my applesauce from friends with an old apple tree that has lots of fruit on it this yea, but they aren't quite ready yet. The best price I can get (organic) apples for at our Co-op is $4.99 for three pounds so that's not as good as your 99 cents per pound.

Don't forget to wear gloves when processing those hot peppers for the dehydrator!

Katie C. said...

Well, free certainly beats everything. 😁. If anyone wants to know, I found the $0.99/pound apples at Wegmans but you have to buy the 8 pound bag. They were not organic so I peel them.