Abundance/Ripening Time 2020

The garden on July 28th

It's another full moon, so it must be time to hear from those crazy Romicks again.

We've just finished our month of Abundance/Ripening Time.

Our produce is coming in a bit slowly this year, so I've certainly been able to keep up with it.

Peas and berries have been harvested...

...some beets and lots of greens like chard, kale and parsley.

Red currants have been picked and nine pints frozen.

Shiitakes have produced well. This year I sauteed them and then froze them.

Garlic and shallots have been harvested and are drying in the attic.

Squashes, cukes and celery are beginning to come in. Celery is an experiment this year. I was asked to grow out the seed. This variety is strong and tough and used mainly in soups. I'm chopping and freezing the leaves. I'll dehydrate the stems and use them for making stock for soup this winter.

We're still waiting for tomatoes, beans, peppers and eggplants.

Work on the pantry continues. We've pulled out all of the filthy fiberglass batts. (So much mouse poop!)

Bob's now fitting in new 2" foam board. As soon as that's done, he'll seal all of the edges with spray foam. Then he'll build a closet in one corner, so that this can serve as a bedroom at some point, if necessary.

We took time away from pantry work to remove two Yews which flanked our front door. These should have  come out at least twenty years ago. They were crowding the door and made access to the two sidelights impossible. Since we're having these windows replaced, the shrubs had to go. For now we've left the two shrubs at the front corners of the house because Lunette likes to sit in their shade.

Speaking of Lunette...

We've had some very hot days and she has spent a good deal of time sleeping right underneath our A/C unit. She knows what to do in the hot weather!

We got a new futon. We ordered it from a company in California that specializes in "clean" (chemically speaking) bedding. Lunette immediately claimed the mattress as her own. Sorry doggy, no such luck!

It took four weeks to receive the futon, but it was worth it. There is absolutely no odor about it.

We've just started Lunette on a new anti anxiety drug. We're halfway through the trial period, but it seems to be working better already. This won't cure any of her health problems, but should make the time she has left a little more comfortable.

We celebrated Lammas Day on August 1st. That's the halfway point between the Summer Solstice and the Autumnal Equinox. It's a celebration of early harvest, or first fruits. We enjoyed our first patty pan squash, some new potatoes and our first cabbage salad of the season.

I suppose that's all the news for now. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and may your gardens produce abundantly.

Bob, Kathleen and Lunette