What did you do in the garden today?

[Sammster]

We got more rain overnight. Looks like this is going to be an incredibly wet August on top of a wet July. Not that I'm complaining.... I LOVE that the grass isn't dead & crunchy... But it does make me worry about whether the weather patterns simply shifted and if the fall will be wet too (like normal) or dry (July/Aug weather delayed).

Either way I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. Thank you Lord for the wet blessings!

We've had a wet, cooler than normal summer, overall. The grass loves it. My veggies - not as much

 

[Sammster]

My view from the deck. Pic 1 parents old cabin, pic 2 cucumber bucket garden, pic 3 tomato getting lighter green and another view of the lake.View attachment 3608981View attachment 3608983View attachment 3608992View attachment 3608998

What a beatiful view!

 

[Sally PB]

I froze 5 quart bags of beans today. I'll be canning tomatoes tomorrow, for sure. I just looked at the plants and there are a lot of ripe/nearly ripe 'maters. The plants are dying from the ground up; looks like late blight...?

I'm going to do things differently next year. I probably won't plant any squash, and that will free up a lot of space. I'll be able to space out the tomato plants more. More air flow, and the ability to get in between plants and row will help me maintain them better. I didn't do as well as I could have this year.

A week ago, they were lush and green. Now they look bedraggled and have a lot of spotted, yellowing leaves.

 

[gtaus]

The garden will need picked tomorrow morning before the brutal over 100 (feeling like 110) weather comes in for the next five days.

Back in the 1970's, when I was about 13 years old, I stayed with my cousins for 2 weeks in Omaha. We had a stretch of weather that was about 105F during that time. It was hot. However, as I remember it, it was a very dry heat and I was able to tolerate it - of course, I was 13 and in very good health.

Now, when it hits the 80F's and high humidity here in northern Minnesota, it really gets to me. I think it's the combination of heat and humidity that sucks the life energy out of me, but, then atain, I'm in my 60's now and nearly as fit as I was when I was a teenager.

I am pretty sure it's the humidity that gets to me. When it gots hot outside, I can turn on the house air conditioner and set it at 78F. It dries out the air and that feels cool to me, even if it's only a few degrees cooler than outside. FYI, in the winter we have the thermostat set at 63F in the house. Makes for great sleeping. But we need a little throw blanket when watching TV in the evening. I am very comfortable putting on a sweater if I get a little chilly in the winter, but there is only so much clothing you can shed when it gets too hot.

Anyways, hope you and your plants make it through the heat spell OK.

 

[WthrLady]

Back in the 1970's, when I was about 13 years old, I stayed with my cousins for 2 weeks in Omaha. We had a stretch of weather that was about 105F during that time. It was hot. However, as I remember it, it was a very dry heat and I was able to tolerate it - of course, I was 13 and in very good health.

Now, when it hits the 80F's and high humidity here in northern Minnesota, it really gets to me. I think it's the combination of heat and humidity that sucks the life energy out of me, but, then atain, I'm in my 60's now and nearly as fit as I was when I was a teenager.

I am pretty sure it's the humidity that gets to me. When it gots hot outside, I can turn on the house air conditioner and set it at 78F. It dries out the air and that feels cool to me, even if it's only a few degrees cooler than outside. FYI, in the winter we have the thermostat set at 63F in the house. Makes for great sleeping. But we need a little throw blanket when watching TV in the evening. I am very comfortable putting on a sweater if I get a little chilly in the winter, but there is only so much clothing you can shed when it gets too hot.

Anyways, hope you and your plants make it through the heat spell OK.

Thanks. They'll be fine. I'm picking so I don't have to go out.
We get this way every summer, for long stretches.
This one is going to last until Wednesday.

Garden is now picked.
The jelly is cooling.

 

[fuzzi]

So the 5000 iu I take a day (625% rda) is not overdoing it? I have low, but acceptable vit D level, per my last physical. I also have osteopenia, so osteoporosis is definintely on my radar. I've already broken my wrist.

In garden news, I need to freeze some beans today!

Take K along with the D, it boosts the absorption.

 

[Smokerbill]

I think I'm going to make my sweet zucchini relish tomorrow. I have several zukes saved up in the fridge, and most of them I let get pretty big. I can scoop out the seedy, pithy centers and shred the solid part for the relish.

I bought red, orange and yellow bell peppers to add, and I have yellow onions. Got the canning salt and sugar, celery and mustard seeds. I might turn it into two batches, and add a lot more mustard and fresh dill from the garden to one of them to make a kind of hot dog relish.

 

[WthrLady]

I'm almost out of room! Well, on the canning shelf anyway, although I can double stack the herbs, and put the two rows of canning supplies on the plastic shelving. I still have a garden full of tomatoes. I haven't even started apples, just wow.... LOL.

 

[fuzzi]

That's crazy, barely any difference between the two carts except the inserts for side panels. If you wanted side panels, you could easily design something that would fit your own cart, and make it out of pallet wood. Probably hold up better than whatever Gorilla charges for their special side panels they want you to buy for their cart.

Nice! Those look so comfortable.

Friendly's Ice Cream!!! That was my go-to place for lunch in college. They had inexpensive but good and generous helpings for lunches, plus it was right by the bus stop I took to my afternoon classes. Are those still around?

I think there are a few left. The one I worked at was torn down years ago.

I loved the black raspberry, mocha chip, and pistachio ice cream the best (no walnuts added!).

 

[fuzzi]

Remember the watermelon sherbet roll with watermelon sherbet with chocolate chip seeds and the lemon lime rind?

And the Jubilee roll at Christmas? We had contests to see who could sell the most. I won the "slice" division, was awarded a Polaroid One Step camera for my efforts.