Goodbye to Summer...

tomato plants!  

By the calender, it is officially Fall.  Weather wise, it still feels more like you would wish Summer to be.  The temperature has finally dropped enough to where you can really enjoy being outside.  We did attempt a garden this year.  Maybe a bit insane, considering that we are in the middle of a severe drought and do not have a well.  I did learn from this that if you have even a minimal water collection set up in place, it is possible to take care of your outside watering needs (especially if you are not in a drought stricken area) without having to rely on outside water.  

Baby Basil and Dill plants

We have 55 gallon barrels set out in places where the most water drains off of the roof.  On days that we were lucky enough to be at home when it did rain, every container that we could find was filled up.  Needless to say, my appreciation for water has greatly increased.  

I will not jump up on my environmental soap box and tap dance, but any precautions that can be taken to keep our fresh water supply uncontaminated and clean is of utmost importance.  

Roma Tomatos

So, although it was not a life changing success, and none of our pumpkins survived, I think we did enjoy this year's garden.  It was a 4' x 8' raised bed.  We built it from old bricks, and filled it with compost and saw dust.  The pest control employed, was a cinnamon/chili powder / water mixture that we sprayed on the leaves, and then picking the worst bugs off.  I also planted peppermint, and marigolds.

Early Days!  The area close to the shop had Zinnas, Marigolds, and Pumpkins

 The girls have decided that they both want to be Micheal Jackson for Halloween.  How to pull this off correctly?  Is it even possible?  We are going to attempt the Billie Jean look with the sequined jacket and fedora.  I have drafted the patterns for the jackets, and done the muslin for both that turned out well, especially since it was my first time to do sleeves and I was really intimidated.

Pumpkin and Squash plants

Of course it is possible that Kee will decide that she wants to be Elsa at the last minute. I do not have a pattern on paper yet, but it is in the works.








-- Jessica