Cooler Weather

With the cooler weather the garden is starting to produce again.  Even with the water I was giving it - I think the plants were just trying to survive in the weeks of 100 + heat.  Now that it has broken below the 90s the plants are fruiting.  Even the Cherokee Purples are putting out tomatoes again.  I see two watermelons so far and the tomatillos look like they are making a go of it too but nothing substantial yet.  I am very happy to see the garden coming back after I had given up on it producing anything more this year.

My two baby watermelons - I will be keeping a close eye on them.  I think they are sugar babys.

The tomatillos are making their paper shell - kind of like an onion but their fruit is more like a tomato.

And the tomatoes - I hope the cool temps will keep them from cracking so bad.

They Moved.

So my friends moved one mile from their apartment to their first house together.  Very excited for them.  Thankfully I didn't have to sweat much for them since they hired movers.  I did not envy those guys.  I would hate to do that much labor in dangerous temperatures of 100+ heat.

I don't mind sweat - it means you are alive and doing something ... even if it is just surviving in the heat.  What I do mind is if it gets in my eyes.

Bathroom is finally done and it is WONDERFUL!!  Rob doesn't have to duck (6'3") to get under the shower head.  We specifically raised the head of the shower when we gutted the room just for him.  It fought till the very end but we triumphed ... strange how simple jobs like screwing in a bathtub drain get complicated.

Going to help get Allie and Jimu's house ready for their girls coming home from Texas (visiting relatives).  The girls know nothing about it.  They didn't even know Allie and Jimu were looking for a house.  They will be so excited when they find out.  I can't wait to see their faces.

Trying to coax the garden along in this heat is becoming more difficult.  I almost want to just let it die.  This drought is really tough on the little garden, I can't imagine what farmers are doing when that is their lively hood (except if they have crop insurance).  You find a way I imagine.  If the garden was more important to me than just a few extra tomatoes (at this point) then I would probably put in more effort.  But most of what I grew I have harvested already or the bugs ate.

I am very glad I started so early this spring.  It meant the vegetables were done before the drought got really bad.  I can only hope Nature takes pity on us soon and lets the rain in.

Little Steps

Turned over the dirt in front of the house where some flowers used to be planted.  Removed the bulbs, maybe I can sell them, but first I need to check to be sure what kind they are exactly.  Also had some - what I call - Ugly Jungle Plants.  Have those bulbs too.  Maybe someone will like them - just too big and leafy for my tastes for a little suburban home.

Tomorrow I will start turning over more earth in the backyard for the big garden.  I figure this gives me a beginning into what I want to do - have my personal garden.  Last year's was a flop thanks to a hail storm.  Oh there were the potatoes which were awesome but the only other thing I really got out of it was a few squash.

I need to find some time to work on the repairs to the house too.  Will try and make up that time when the weather isn't so great outside.