Well Friday turned out to be a very nice dry day with a gentle breeze that saw cool temps to start the day and it may have reached the middle 70's by day's end. Just almost perfect except for the wet start from the all day rain on Thursday. I did some piddling around the cabin, yards and gardens but no major project except for a hike around mid morning and then some porch sitting and reading during the afternoon. I did harvest some some kale and collards for neighbors and dropped them by their place.
I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my usual morning routines that start with some quiet moments to honor my LORD, to give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name. All are holding as I make this post. I did notice this morning that instead of it being light outside at a little before 6 the darkness is staying longer with the shorter days and now longer nights which means fall is approaching and summer is on the wane. I headed out after breakfast to access the damage if any from deer and slugs as the rain is just perfect for the slugs, but so far this summer the damage has been minimal. I harvested another cucumber and noticed several more starting to mature. What a blessing moving them out to the backwoods patch along topside of the deep gully. The added couple of feet stayed put and seems to be holding as well despite the inch and half rain on Thursday. This added dirt area will give me more room for planting next years squash and cucumbers.
I noticed three tomato's showing some color as well and the blue berries are ripening albeit slowly. I'll pick some this morning for my oatmeal. I must say the flowers are just absolutely gorgeous despite being a couple of weeks late due to the late freeze in May, the week of 8 plus inches of rain and the cool temps to start the growing season. They are just brilliant in colors especially the new zinnia/dahlia plants which are growing to the height of a couple feet tall which is just what Nancy wanted for the bed off the front porch. I definitely will head them come October and save their seeds for next years planting. It's looking like a bumper crop in the bean department with the half runner starting to add fruit and the October (bird egg) beans are maturing as well. The deer did do a number on a couple plants last week but thankfully didn't eat them down. Its been years since I've ever grown them and we love their taste. They are similar to a pinto but oh so much better when cooked.
My aunt Joann who raised me, use to send me 6 quart jars of the bird egg beans she canned for my Christmas present each year when my kids were little and when she was able to before she passed. We all loved their flavor especially as a bean soup. You can harvest them out of their hull when they are still soft or let them dry in their shells or hull like a pinto. When cooked they resemble a pinto but when soft they look like a birds egg and thats how I always remembered them. I'm excited to harvest them and freeze them in bags for the pot come this winter.
Well we cleaned up the delicious zucchini pie made from our garden for supper and it is just so delicious and hopefully we can do another one before the plants die. It's not been the best year for squash due to all the rain and fungus that is ever present because of where I was growing them. I'll move the squash next year to where they get more sunshine to the backwoods patch near where the cukes are growing this year, but I'm pleased with all we are harvesting. The garlic was great this year and I'm back to daily eating a small kernel which is a super food for the body. It's too bd Nancy is having some reaction along with Tyler, my son in law who is allergic to it which makes no sense to me, because its so good for the body and good health, oh well. I'll replant come September for next years crop and harvesting in June.
I tuned into the Ray's game in Detroit and they won 8-0 over the Tigers and are still in the race for the playoffs. Hopefully they can be the Orioles out for a division win, LATER
