“If the people we love are stolen from us, the way to have them live on is never to stop loving them.”—James O’Barr
A year ago, we were in Catalina at the Avalon Ball, having a wonderful weekend with friends dancing, golfing, goofing, and sharing. We often took several other couples, and Sue was the organizer, but this year, she passed to baton as she was not doing well. Again thinking, this is an easy task, silly me attempted to step into her size fifty shoes. Well, the weekend worked out well, but the question. “How did she do all that and make it look so easy?” keeps coming to mind.
It’s been almost eight months since we danced together and the activity of holding her near and moving to the music is sorely missed. Nine Carat Gold is practicing at the Himalayan Grill, and after a Sewer District meeting, I mosied down there to listen for a while. If I close my eyes, it is easy to see us dancing to this beautiful music. I love you, Sue, always will!!
What a difference a year makes!
Another slow day but it was decided to attack the summer garden as several of the tomatoes plants, Joe’s favorites, are ready to be pulled! My legs are in bad need of some color, so the closet was searched for “work shorts” and no Bueno! There was one heavily soiled, torn, and painted up pair of jeans sitting in the closet, so he gave his life for the cause. Scissors at the ready, snip-snip-snip, work shorts. While heading to the garden, the mirror flashed a breathtakingly horrible sight, me in shorts. It looked like two white toothpicks suck in a banana.
One more batch was picked before the plant was pulled. These little guys will be a snack after they get sliced, oiled, toasted, and roasted!
Tomatoes are almost gone!
The backyard has raised beds, which was a 70th birthday present to me from both of us. Working in the garden is a lot easier than crawling around on one’s hands and knees. With the plants gone, the mulch that is left will be raked up, then amendments will be rototilled into the ground, and the mulch reapplied. Now it is ready for the winter garden to be planted in about a month!
Cleaned out and ready for rototilling.
Beautiful tomatoes and an UGLY tomato vine! Then trimming the vines are just moved into the concrete pathway, and the gardener will clean it up on Friday. However, today I filled two ninety-gallon trash containers with trimmings.
The plants still have fruit, but the plant is UGLY.
While cleaning out the tomatoes and some old summer squash, cucumbers were discovered, so into the refrigerator, they will go, and in a week or so, refrigerator pickles will be ready!
A near fight breaks out in the garden!
It was getting late, so the schedule was adjusted, this tomato plant was given a reprieve of one day before he gets taken out and the remaining fruit goes next door to Vicky. The corn was disappointing as it was small, but the cool summer was likely the cause. The corn shall be picked, and plants thinned tomorrow. Should there be sufficient corn, then corn chowder will be on the menu!
The corn is nearly ready, and the tomatoes are ripe for picking!
The winter squash will be ready as soon as the plant dies. Summer and winter squash are both grown in the summer, but winter squash had a tough shell and will last in storage all winter long!
Winter squash ready to pick!
Did You Know? Winter squash is so-called because the fruit of these plants are often not ready for harvest until the end of the summer and many types will store very well so they can be eaten in the winter.
Winter squashes varieties include, but are not limited to, acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, and pumpkins.
Winter squashes are generally large vining plants that may grow to 10 feet long or more. Leave at least 6 feet between winter squash plants.
The fruit of winter squashes is also larger in many cases.
Some winter squash plants only make 1 to 3 fruits per plant, and most take up to 120 days to harvest.
Winter squash should be left on the plant until fully mature: when the skin is hard, and the plant has died.
Most winter squash, except acorn squash, also needs to be cured before eating them. The curing process allows the fruit to be stored longer and become sweeter.
To cure your winter squash, leave them out in the sun until the stem is brown and dried.
Speaking of the stem, always leave at least one inch of stem on your winter squash fruits and never carry them by their stem.
A broken stem can invite rot and mold into your fruit. If the stem does break off, use that fruit first.
Winter squash can be stored in a cool, dry place for 3-6 months, depending on the variety.
It’s best not to wash squashes that you intend to leave in storage. And check them often while they are in storage for mold and pest damage.
Late in the afternoon, it was time to get ready for the Sewer District meeting, so into the new shower, I went. That is a fantastic shower! The meeting began at 7:00 PM and was out at 7:45 PM, so I headed to the Himalayan Grill to visit the band.
Of course, ordering was a self-imposed requirement, so Chili Chicken Tika was selected. While listening to the great music, a bottle of Indian beer was downed, and it was felt. Their beer is 8% and has a kick to it.
Click the arrow and have a listen but remember, they are practicing, and they have three new people this evening due to pandemic issues.
We had our singer this evening, which brightened things up.
Band practice at the Himalayan Grill
After arriving home, a call on the Bat Phone was placed to Lee, and we talked for about 38 minutes (the Bat Phone tell you how long the call was when you hang up). Brian is back in Colorado, so all it getting normal at her house. Lee has a cat who is quite stealthy, so when this cartoon showed up, I could not resist emailing it to her!
I could NOT resist!
The chronometer indicated 10:00 PM, so one episode of “The Middle” was needed before crashing this evening. Tomorrow is a day set aside for chores and a trip to the post office and nursery!
