August 31st.

Summer is waning, summer is going. We are spending as much time outside as we can. We have a lot of clean up to do still. A lot of canning. A lot. This morning alone we harvested 25 lbs of tomatoes. Leaving plenty more on the vine because really, where am I going to put that many tomatoes? I need to clean out my freezer, that's what I need to do.
The thing is, it just really doesn't sound that appealing when I could be watching this:

Or this:

And this:

Or that:

But especially these:

It was a fantastic summer and I'm ready for fall.

On the menu tonight:

A Tomato Salad ( what else could I possibly do when I have more than 25lbs of tomatoes on my kitchen counter?) with Feta, lots of Basil, Sunflower Seeds, lots of Pepper, salt, Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar.

And Corn on the Cob. And Ice Cream of course.

August 22nd, 2010.

We went camping in Lassen Volcanic National Park.

It is a very wild beautiful place. Meadows covered in wildflowers that look like they are out of faery tales , peaks covered in snow, geo thermal vents with steam coming out, conifers and streams everywhere. It's hot during the day and very cold at night. Bring a good sleeping bag!
The lakes are crystal clear and cold but we all swam even baby girl.

In short, highly recommended if you don't mind some incomfort :)

August 9th., 2010.

Now that was a busy week. Here are the 2 pics of the garden in august. A lot of the butternut squashes are ripe now and I get pounds after pounds of tomatoes every day. Speaking of tomatoes, we have a black rat that seems very very fond of heirloom tomatoes. But that will be for another day. I have to go make dinner now and can tomato sauce. A lot of tomato sauce.

August 4th 2010.

What a difference a month makes! Here is the garden in the first week of July:

Beautiful Calendula :

At the Gate, looking Left :

Onion flower and Pickling Cucumbers :

Eggplants :

The Monster Plants, 4 different types of Squash on one Mound. Could be too much. Maybe :

Looking to the Chicken Coop in the Back :

Catnip and a Hard Working Bee :

My parsley, nicely going to Seed for Me :

The Peppers. Maybe next year I won't plant quite as many plants of it. I say that every year. Like with the Squash. I have, oh, 9 plants :

The Chamomile looking Tall and Pretty. Highly attractive to toddlers :

The Tomato Wall of Sacramento :

Sunflowers and Artichokes, both Tall and Yummy :

That was long. Tomorrow I'll show the garden as it looks now. In the mean time I have to be at 2 places at the same time today. Twice. With a toddler who will have to shorten her nap after a bad night. Fun, fun. And I have only 3 children. And school hasn't started yet. And I have no idea what's for dinner. And whatever it is I'll have only 20 mns to cook it. Help.                                                                                           

august 3rd 2010.

Whew, it's hot. Actually it's not, but it is. I'm becoming a wimp I guess. We are having incredibly mild weather for Sacramento and yet I'm still complaining about it being too hot. I want fall. Now.

And my second baby turned 11. She just couldn't wait even though I was not in a hurry. Doesn't she look happy?

And this one is not allowed. Nope. No way. She'll stay my baby forever. Hope springs eternal.

July 26, 2010.

Vacation.

We haven't had a vacation in so long, but we are making up for it this year. Our house is full...more than full. Different people from different countries. It's a blast, it's a party and it keeps on going. The garden is neglected a bit but we have eaten from it almost everyday even we 12 people sitting down morning, noon and night.

Bliss.

Friday, July 2nd 2010.

My two oldest children do not share my passion for gardening. I can usually bribe, coerce, order my children to help me set up the vegetable garden during their Easter vacation. Well, they help for ONE day. After that, well, maybe if I pay them. Maybe. My little one on the other hand is a future gardener and loves nature so there is hope yet.
But, but, when it is time to harvest fruit from our trees, suddenly everybody rushes outside and is eager to help.  They will even help make jams and pies and cakes. Wait a second.. .ah that must be it then: the sweet reward at the end.
And climbing the ladder.
Couldn't be that they want to spend time with their mother. Right.
But my baby girl... aaaah, you should have seen her face when she realized we were going to eat the many many pounds of plums.