@Acre4Me That marbled squash is really cool looking! And all those tomatoes—beautiful! Those spinning gourds are darling...that might be fun to grow next year to give to the crumb-crunchers at church. (Much to their parents' delight, I'm sure, when a half-rotten one is found beneath the sofa...bwah ha ha.)
Thanks for the ground hornet death box with the old Rubbermaid,
@WthrLady. That is a good one. That is awful about your trees, and I'm familiar with that nursery! Terrible shame. :/ Plus it is not only the money, but all of the care you gave them! Argh! Sounds like you're having a rough few days; I hope things look up! Maybe next time take your dog out for a pup ice cream after the vet and bath.
Some days that's all I feel like doing in the garden as well. That and tossing damaged 'maters to the ladies.
Ditto! Some of the winter crops are peeping up here, though. That makes me happy. Plus lots of seed to collect, which leads to hopeful thoughts for next year.
Beautiful kitten, too! Stormy is a perfect name.
Love that mutant carrot
@ChocolateMouse!
Hope you are doing well,
@karenerwin! Happy fishing. It is good to hear from you.
@penny1960, are you getting a new pup?
@Sueby, glad your canning went well. I do use those fermenting lids; they're very nice to have. A lot better than a cracked jar or bugs in your ferment! There's another kind with a water-filled valve-type thing that's also nice to have. Of course I cannot remember the name...Have fun with those pickles
@igorsMistress! Fermenting is such fun!
It's really good to read that the smoke is clearing for many of you.
@Battles house, glad you came through the storm safely. What about your seedlings?
We have been really busy here and it will stick for a while, I think! Getting ready for winter. I have spent several hours raking leaves and various woodland debris out of the woods near the house over the past few days. Usually I get only so far every year. I think I need to bribe all of my friends' children to come over here and help, there are about 13 acres of woods to rake!

(I do make a wicked pan of brownies.) Actually, most of my friends are a little younger than I am...time to bribe them, too...At least then I'd be sort of 'on par' and only have a year's worth to deal with next fall. Anyhow. The chickens get a lot of the leaves and some of debris, which is mostly tree bark. They run from the wheelbarrow but race toward that fresh pile of leaves!
Last week one of our friends' children fell very very ill and spent days at Children's hospital; it turns out she had a very rare form of encephalitis, poor thing! Thank God, she is now back home and doing well, considering. Very scary.
We have also had very low nighttime temps—high 30s—and had a stretch of brisk days in the 60s. The garden is slowing down...my squash plants look beautiful, but I don't think we'll get any fruit. *pout* Ah well, the blooms are pretty and make my bee friends happy. The temps are returning to normal, though! No frost yet. I'm surprised to read of some already for several of you, but it seems like one of those years! Considering the alternative was probably Godzilla contributing to localized temperature spikes, I guess we'll all take early frosts.
Happy...well, watching the garden, everybody!