End of the season already...

The last of the volunteer Morning Glories were flowering this morning, the nights are getting cool, good camping weather.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are coming in, slowly but surely...

The Picasa 3.8 is available now...

The Picasa 3.8 ReadMe

Here there be Dragons

Dragonflies that is, as is typical for the 2nd week in August we had our annual Dragonfly day here on the farm, thousands of them doing there best to keep the mosquito population in check. And I might add doing a fine job, between them and the heat it's been a pretty good year bug wise around here.

Garden Picking

Looks like Broccoli for dinner tonight. The garden is coming in, the Summer squash, and Zucchini are about done and we'll probably pull the plants this weekend. We're picking Broccoli twice a week, we're still waiting for peppers lots of small ones.

Roma tomatoes have been coming in 2-3 a day but the pace is picking up now that the nights are getting cooler. Only one ripe red one this morning.

The "Black Krim" heirloom tomato we grew this year is fantastic, low acid, prolific and delicious on a tomato sandwich. They really are a blackish color inside too.

Surprise!

Rose was watering one of the large potted Petunias that sit up on the granite wall this morning and the plant moved... Can you see it?

A 16" Garter snake had somehow climbed up into the large pot and had nestled down in the foliage didn't take to kindly to being watered.

A good hunting spot for him I suppose, letting his dinner come to him.

Perseid, Mountian Lions and Bears oh my...

The Perseid meteor shower was a bust on the 12th due to the cloud cover last night Aug 13th was pretty good though, we saw ~20 streaks and a couple 1/2 sky long sparkler tailed meteors streak across the sky.  Rose and I, Crystal, James and Jason watched the sky from ~10 to midnight, the bugs stayed away for the evening, oatmeal pies, and popcorn was the preferred snack of the evening.

Rose and I went to get a haircut yesterday, talked to a neighbor there who said that our plow guy saw a Mountain Lion a couple days back.   Hmm, maybe that's where all the local deer went.  And maybe that's what spooked the fawn and had it tearing through our field in such a hurry a few weeks back.

We were driving home from New Boston Ctr on Rt 13 yesterday and had the good fortune to drive up as 3 Black bear cubs clambered across the road, 2 made it across easy enough as all traffic had stopped at the sight, the third cub decided to run back from where he came from and up a tree.  No momma bear in sight.  Not wanting to disturb them we drove off once the road was clear.  I had my camera phone,  there just wasn't time to take a shot, we were in awe of the spectacle.

Back Porch Visitor this morning

Off work today, boy it's hot...

Fred our farrier is arriving at noon today, so I've been down cleaning the stalls and barn in general. Picked the Broccoli and then some flat leaf Italian and curled parsley for dehydrating. We got the squash picked too.

Rose was out back watering and noticed this Leopard Frog just sitting on the back step.

To the Garden we go...

Thought I'd send a quick update on the 2010 Vegetable Garden...

This has been one HOT Humid summer, Rose talked me out of doing the big garden this year, probably a good thing.  The heat really is doing the gardens good as long as we keep them watered good they continue growing good.  Our well is holding out so far this year, today's rain will help little as the ground is so dry..

To the Garden we go...

Broccoli has been a constant producer we are picking twice a week and eating as much.  Cukes are going gangbusters,  Zucchini is just about petered out, going to have to pull it soon. Summer squash is still producing well 2-4 every couple days,  I do like my summer squash (Thanks Mrs. Searle!).  Cal Wonder Peppers, one so far, lots of small green ones and loads of oncoming promising looking buds.  Tomatoes, 5 or 6 so far, lots of small Amish Paste coming on and the Black Krim's are coming in too (I'll have to try one of these this weekend) .  The ones I've had so far "Mr Stripey" oh can you say mmm for tomato sandwiches, great taste, not a high acid tomato, perfect on a sandwich or just slicing and eating them.

No Aurora for us, how about you did you see any northern lights?