I blame it on the weeds. No matter how many times I have groveled around in my raised beds and flower beds, yoinking great heaps of the offending greenery out by the wheelbarrow-ful, they have come back with a vengeance. I have not seen the likes of this since I have cultivated this plot. It doesn't help that my energy level has been running on low - I come from cold weather people - and as soon as the temperatures rise over 80, with matching levels of humidity, I'm a goner. Even my whining has gone damp.
We have also been blessed/cursed with non-ending monsoon-like rains with accompanying thunder and lightning. This, coupled with the unending heat and humidity, has created a steroidal effect on my weeds. Quite perversely, while being banished to the inside by the weather, I have started plans for next year's garden. I mean, we have to have hope, right?
 |
| Slimmie wants summer to stop. Please note small fang. |
 |
| My morning sausage. Or is that ham? |
 |
| This summer's fav |
Having a countertop full of ripe produce means that I can indulge in one of my favorite seasonal foods - gazpacho!
 |
| Best served in my bee mug and inhaled within moments. |
My sister and I made our annual pilgrimage to the League of NH Craftsmen's Fair in Sunapee, NH, and it was as wonderful as ever. It was a rather hectic trip - I ran a little late because I picked up birthday Iced Maple Lattes for us. Apparently, there are three shots of espresso in each one, so we really didn't need the car. We could have rocketed there on caffeine power. It was oppressively hot and humid and I really felt for the vendors. At least the tents were white, but there was little breeze, so the heat and humidity stayed trapped under the canopies. We didn't have a lot of time - which was a blessing, given the weather - as Connie had to get back to pick up her other client (other than our parents). I made a beeline for the one artist I always buy from and picked up a couple of lovely items from a new one. Ann Eldridge's etchings are very popular, so I usually email her prior to our trip, to see what she still has. Lucky for me I did, as the cat print below, "Repose", was her only one.
 |
| I love this turkey - my favorite bird. |
 |
| Sorry for the blurry photo - it's behind glass |
New this year were some stained glass pieces:
Unfortunately, I forgot to bring the craftsman's name. Both are exquisitely made and now I have to figure out where to hang them. My sister bought a beautiful print of a New England wood in fall. As is always the case, we had occasion to laugh so hard we cried. This time, the impetus was a pickup topped with a homemade, poorly balanced camper top that was proportionately wrong for the vehicle. BUT, as he was apparently doing his part in Making America Great Again, we just kept a safe distance, squealing in terror every time he tried to negotiate a curve in the road - which was constantly. I don't think we took a breath from Brattleboro to Bennington. It was such a relief to part company with this disaster on wheels.
Meanwhile, work has been unseasonably busy, which makes me cranky. We are used to and proud of being the outpost office - never visited by the nobs in HQ. So far this summer, we've had three partners camp out. Fortunately, this last one is a gem.
32 comments:
Oh, I am right there with you - the zip is gone from my zap. Oh the weeds make me so cranky, and the work and lack of produce as well. Just feels it's not worth all the work this season.
I am hoping that I'll have a cheerier outlook this winter - all it takes is a good snowstorm to wipe out all memory of a lousy gardening season.
"Apparently, there are three shots of espresso in each one, so we really didn't need the car." You made me laugh out loud. :-D
We'll get through this summer; it's got to end sometime. Right? RIGHT???
brattleboro! i haven't thuoght about that place in ages. we used to rent rudyard kipling's place there year after year. i come from cold weather people too. i am so over this summer.
Hasn't it been awful?
I need to do some research! Rudyard Kipling? Cool! Oh, yes. This heat needs to go away.
check it out! he built a house that sits on a hill and looks a bit like a ship. it's very authentic...it still has his bathtub! i love that place, especially the kitchen!
What a great house - and a great idea, making historic places vacation-able. I will have to at least go see it. The setting looks wonderful, too. It must have been so much fun staying there.
I love a good craft sale too! Sounds like you're living in the Garden of Weedin' this year, as the old joke goes.
I think I might paint that on a board and mount it in my garden. Right next to my rain gauge.
I'll agree with you on the weather. It's lousy!!! Do love the shots of your animals. They seem all summered out. The turkey picture is wonderful. I have them in my yard before and after they have their babies. The bring them by after they have them. they are adorable ! Stay cool!!
Oh LOVE the etchings and the stained glass finds. That sun is truly awesome. If I ever come to visit you better hide it, and The Pat too. I'll trade you some rain and humidity for hot dry heat and smoke? Tell me more of the bee mug please!
Fires surrounding us! I'll trade you a little Muse for a little rain!
This has truly been the year of the weeds. (And they won!) I too am planning for next year. I give up. The more I pull I swear by the next morning there were three in its place. I am sooo done.
I LOVE turkey poults! We have a 'herd' of them that come through, ushered by four harried aunties. There seem to be two ages and they are all over the place.
I bet Mandy would be less than thrilled to have to share her sausage kingdom (queendom) with The Pat! I would so gladly trade this wet stuff - I'll take the hot dry heat, but hold the smoke! Bee mug was made by a local artist, about an hour north of me. It's unique!
Oh, Toni. How I wish I could send you this rain.
Yes, Theresa, I've given up, too. It seems that they do thrive by being yanked out - maybe it stimulates the millions of roots left behind...
Aw, don't worry about trying to summon up the old blogging mojo. It will come back when it's time.
I, like Michelle, laughed out loud when you wrote about putting the three shots of espresso in your "engines!"
Those stained glass pieces are lovely.
I do believe this summer of heat and humidity (nearly all over the country) has been the cause of weeds busting out like never before. Even the crops in my garden look like they're over and done with . . . all ragged and blowsy even though they're still producing. It's early this year for the garden to look this way. But nuttin' we can do about any of it, my friend!
I once saw a garden program that claimed weeds won't prosper in well fertilized soil...hahahahahahaha...gasp...sorry.
Love the treasures you found.
the predicted high for today is 92˚ with an equal amount of humidity (but with clouds and possible rain) and my contractor's guys are coming today to start trimming plants away from the house to prepare for painting which means I'm going to be out there all day digging up stuff and directing the trimming. not going to let them mangle my flowering shrubs and ferns.
Ain't that the truth. I think I will focus on heavy mulch for next year. At least the carpet of weeds is easier to pull, thanks to the dampness. A neighbor's girlfriend trounced by recently and cheekily pointed out all the edible weeds in my garden. I told her I'd get her a bag and she could help herself...so, so cranky.
Hardeharhar! I believe they are in league with the non-beneficial insects and are planning a coup.
Amen to that. I have yet to see a contractor who gives a damn about flowering shrubs.
That craftsman fair sounds amazing. I love sister trips. I have three and we go away for two nights every year. The older we get (all in our 50's now) it seems the more fun we have. Maybe we're just lowering our standards
I am treading lightly. I had a really nice comment for you last night and I swear all I did was hit the the shift key and it went up in smoke. I don't know why.I was tired , cranky from a bad reaction to a Meat Bee aka German Wasp so I bagged it. Let me try again umpp!
Slimmie and the puppers look adorable but slightly wilted around the edges. I am sorry about the weeds. You can have my garden I have no weeds but then I also have no garden again this year. Due to a collaboration between the ground squirrels, jacks and gophers. But I can assure you no weeds.
I would trade you for rain but I wouldn't wish these fires on my worst enemy. But would love some rain. Only if you can spare it.
Bee mug is A adorable. Tomatoes are yummy and make me long for gazpacho. I went to a farmer's market in Redding and after clearing the smoke walked away with lots 'o squash, tomatoes a few peaches yummers.
Ann Eldridge's etchings love at first sight. I explored her website found several pieces I would love to have. I also explored the website for the craft fair and found several other artist that are amazing. Our craft fairs in the far left seem to be associated with some other activity such as Christmas coming shopping, Civil War reenactments and so forth. Which means one tends to find a significant amount of less than stellar pieces. Often a good amount of um, how do I say this politely without offending anyone. Think 1960 to 1980 offerings that would be left in the estate sales from our Grandparents. Whew that went moderately well.
At any rate glad you surfaced and are alive if not well.
I think we all get more relaxed and comfortable with both ourselves and our sisters - that sounds like so much fun!
So diplomatic! There is a lot of sameness at the fair - you know the sort of thing, that which is made to sell. Ann is what I would call a true artist and she has such a knack with wildlife and just plain things. While I am glad you have no weeds, I am so hoping you have no fire. Has there been any let-up?
It is like herding kittens with fire two steps forward 10 back. Although I thought about putting it on the auction block just to see if anyone bites.
I haven't been that motivated, either. Life's just like that sometimes.
I've been neck deep in canning and preserving from the garden so I haven't had time to think about next year yet. That is what winter is for!
So THAT'S what it's for!
Post a Comment