It Felt Like Fall (for about 5 minutes)

I was in the garden Monday morning after a three day hiatus (more on that to follow) and for about five minutes it felt like fall.  It was overcast, there was a considerable breeze blowing and for a moment, I paused, stood, and sniffed and sure enough, there was fall.  Maybe it was that I was surrounded by decaying vegetation and the humidity was sliced briefly by the breeze, but there was definitely that fall is around the corner feeling.  Of course, I know fall is imminent, and there will be many more summer days to come, but just for a moment, I was happy for that break.

So we finally got some rain yesterday and I couldn't be happier.  I used the day to clean up my closet and do some much needed, much-delayed Spring cleaning.  It was heavenly to have a break from watering and gardening!  The rain gives the perfect get-out-of-gardening-guilt-free card.

Hopefully the rain will help speed my little propagation project along!  I planted three more rows of beans, mainly to figure out which ones were the ones that were most prolific this year, because I'm not sure which ones they were.  I also tried a row of basil from seed, so I can make some pesto and since my basil is not so good anymore.  I don't think I had that fungus that's affecting basil growers, but maybe.
I also planted some okra and cut some tomato suckers for rooting.  The melon plants are COVERED with flowers and my cucumbers seem happy as do my various squash plants.  I have picked two cucumbers so far!  I planted late, so I'm a bit behind on those.  Hopefully I can wipe out the remaining flea beetles and et my eggplants rockin' and rollin'.


The tomatoes are fizzling out, but the peppers are out of hand.  Today I'm going to make piri piri sauce.  I will post the recipe later if it works out and talk about it.  I'm also going to make some fresh salsa to share with some guests coming for a week.  I've gotten all the paste tomatoes I'm going to get this year I think and have a freezer full of puree now, ready for the winter.

On the menu this week:

• Monday I made a Hereford filet with Victoria Gourmet Kansas City Rub and finished with a bit of balsamic on the grill.  Served with thinly sliced homegrown pink oven garlic potato chips. (yummy!) And of course, Caprese salad with a spinach base.
• Tuesday: Whole Grain linguine with bacon, fresh tomatoes,  garlic, eggplant, zuchini, spinach and basil tossed with a bit of handmade mozz and fresh parm. Everything was farm fresh or homegrown except the bacon and parmesan. 
• Tonight?  We'll see
• Tomorrow night: Shaking beef with flank steak
• Thursday night? Dinner out 
• Friday? Trying my hand at brisket
• Saturday? Pizza night with a 7yr. old and 5yr. old!!
• Sunday: BRUNCH out!!!!
• Monday: Hoisin pork tenderloin

And of course, lots of tomatoes and potatoes piled in there!

CHEERS!