I just took a cruise around the gardens and really enjoyed the fragrance of fall leaves. The maples are turning color and other trees and plants are starting to show some fall colors. It’s 77 degrees F out today and boy, am I ever loving it. I drove out to the Wolf Garden and found the cows and horses standing in the shade, totally content, enjoying the weather as well. Even our bull was lying in the trail, chewing his cud as I drove right next to him. He wasn’t going to move a bit. I scratched his chin and drove on by. The tomatoes are still ripening as the vines really weren’t much affected by the frost and none of the tomatoes themselves, had any frost spots. The Hopi Pale Grey squash is looking wonderful under moderately frosted vines. I’ll leave them there to let the ones that are still green finish maturing and allow them to cure on the vine. Nice, big gray squash! And lots of them. Yea!
I’m astounded that our sweet corn, raised for seed, is doing wonderfully. I pulled a cob of Damaun super sweet corn yesterday and it’s already getting starchy, nearly ready to pull in. There’s lots of it, too! Just like the Simonet and Who Gets Kissed. The Seneca Sunrise was a near casualty of the rain and now the birds. I’m not sure how much seed we can save there. But I am glad to report that even though the second planting of my hybrid, Espresso, sweet corn to can up, is doing well, despite really heavy grass and weed pressure. (I plant hybrid sweet corn so I’m not tempted to eat or can it!)
Will’s busy baling up the last (we think, unless there’s a second crop) of our hayfields today. It’s sunny and warm, perfect for haying. Yesterday, I canned up another batch of salsa, which now needs to go down in the pantry. Of course, I’ll be seeding out more tomatoes today, so tomorrow, God willing, I’ll be canning up yet another batch. We love our salsa. I use it in a lot of recipes too. Wow, I’m drooling! — Jackie
Seeing your livestock looking so healthy and contented made my day! If only they could all be raised like this… got your seeds and will be planting the peas now and the rest next spring.
So excited to try them!
We enjoy our livestock. They’re not just a money-maker, they’re friends. All the cows have names and let you scratch them in the pasture. We love watching them enjoy themselves.
Well, my summer garden was a bust! Zilch. Nothing. Maybe what did survive the brutal TX summer might kick out some produce during the next two months……. Time to get into the garden and plant my winter garden……. Tons of greens…….. root crops. Should be planting garlic. Still HOT (mid to upper 90’s). Last week we had fake fall……… highs below average!
I hear you! We have the worst garden ever in over 17 years! But, still, it’s giving us a nice bounty. Thank God!! I hope your temps get down to normal for fall so your winter garden will do much better.
I too just love the fall. We are getting a taste
Of the cooler weather here as well. I’m in the Pacific Northwest. I love reading youre blogs . And you’re articles. You’re very inspiring . I have been canning for many years actually grew up putting food by. Nothing so gratifying to stand back and look at youre hard work. Beautiful jars of food . That you know what went into it .
Sorry about duplicate post-I’m not sure what happened! I just love phones/computers-not! Technology of that kind is a persistent struggle for me.
My favorite time of the year is fall. There is still a lot to do-garden clean up and more harvest. We’ve been so dry-so no second crop of grass hay. Sweet corn we freeze and that is done. We did the roasting and blenderizing of tomatoes that you had done . We did a lot of our tomatoes and froze in ziplock bags. That was a great idea you had. We canned a lot of tomatoes also. I completed the potato digging. Now for the squash/sweet potatoes before frost. The walnut trees are really dropping their nuts.
No sweat on the post. A lot of times my reply goes mysteriously to a different location than it was supposed to. Who knows? I’m sure not a computer genius by far! We haven’t dug potatoes yet as the soil is too dry! You can’t get a fork deep enough into the ground. We did have a little rain last night to hopefully soon.
I’m still canning tomato recipes as I seed tomatoes quickly, so they don’t rot in the crates. I hope to do some sweet corn out of our third planting on Wednesday.
My favorite time of the year is fall. There is still a lot to do-garden clean up and more harvest. We’ve been so dry-so no second crop of grass hay. Sweet corn we freeze and that is done. We did the roasting and blenderizing of tomatoes that you had done . We did a lot of our tomatoes and froze in ziplock bags. That was a great idea you had. We canned a lot of tomatoes also. I completed the potato digging. Now for the squash/sweet potatoes before frost. The walnut trees are really dropping their nuts. Do you can potatoes?
My favorite time of year. Cool mornings and evenings. I can handle warm afternoons. 😁 I enjoy seeing your gardens and hearing about your canning. It’s such a feeling of accomplishment to see those jewels sparkling on the shelves, no matter how few or many are sitting there. I remember days in years past when I canned so very much more, but I am thankful for anything I can get to can up. God is always good-no matter what.
You’ve got that right! He’s sure helping us out with our fall weather. I’m so grateful as it’s letting us continue harvesting crops that would have been frost-killed if it had nailed us badly. I’m so happy I’m getting so much canned up. Sometimes though, I sure do get tired!!
The way it is looking (and the weather prognosticators), it will be a decision that enough tomatoes or we’ll gut it out till frost. We do need some rain but I fear it will come about the time bean/corn harvest is in full swing. Some beans have already been picked.
How do you get your internet service?
We have Hughes Net satellite service. We’ve had a bit of rain last night but it’s drying up this afternoon. I have lots of dry beans to get in yet and we’re grateful that the plants weren’t killed in our frost, so they’re still maturing seed. I haven’t picked any corn yet. But soon, I hope.
Beautiful corn! isnt the change of seasons wonderful. i truly love the fall weather! pray Will gets all the hay in before any rains. lovely photo of the stock.
He’s all done with the main crop and is hauling it home now. I love fall too. I just hope it lasts a long time this year. Often, we go from summer to winter, it seems!!