If it wasn't for the tomatoes... I would torch my garden. It does make me feel the tiniest bit better knowing that everyone around me is having a very 'off' year, too. After a little spurt of productivity, all eighty of my summer squash plants pooped out. After an exciting start with abundant vines, glorious yellow blossoms and baby squash, my Kuri plants died. My cucumber plants withered. Even with electronet fencing, there is a little, skinny rabbit that hops in and out of the garden, eating off the tops of the Swiss chard, chewing up the sunflowers, mowing the beans. But, all is not lost! I have a splendiferous, glorious, bumper crop of WEEDS! (Drip, drip, drip goes the sarcasm.) Between the drought and my wonky hip(s), I have not been able to keep up with them. As if that is ever a possibility - even in good times.
I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to weed the kale and onion beds (don't even get me started on the onion 'crop') or just turn my back on it all, reap what I can and then smother the beds over the winter. It's very disheartening.
Last week, I had to cover for my counterpart in the city, which meant that I had to trek into the office every day so that I could cover her attorney's phone - for that one call a day. In some ways, it was nice to get away from the house, but in most ways, I am so glad I do not have to commute. There is also construction going on in the office below me, which seems to require super-heavy-duty dental equipment (whining drills), a jack hammer, lots of metal ladders and whoknowswhat. You can't hear yourself think.
We've had a brief hiatus from the hotashell weather - over as of yesterday and back into heat advisories - so I marooned myself on the Island of Misfit Stuffies and made more progress on my secret SOYSOX project, details to be revealed at a later date. I will recount my adventures on the IOMS in my next post.
There were some highlights over the past week(s) - my friend, Marianne, opened her general store, Hoosick Provisions, to rave reviews. It is a lovely space filled with wonderful things and they have been busy as all get-out since they opened their door.
There was also a little pre-birthday celebration with three of the four 'girls' at my favorite restaurant. It was such a nice experience - from the ambiance, the service, the gracious accommodation of the oldest of the girls and her wheelchair. Then there were the cocktails!
I had a Waterlily and I could have floated down the stream very easily, had I not limited myself to one. It was a lovely shade of violet. I am going to take my sister back for a later birthday celebration - I hear the call of the waterlilies...
The dogs and I went on a little jaunt to a local farm stand, noted for its sweet corn. While I was slipping the dewy ears into my bag, I saw a pickup go by with a friend at the wheel - I waved frantically, but she vaguely looked at me and smiled - one of those, "hello, friendly stranger" kinds of looks. When I got home, I realized that she wouldn't have recognized me - dog rescue hat pulled down to my ears, sunglasses, mask, barn clothes. She did email me later saying she had recognized Lovey, sticking out of the back window! I guess these days we are recognizable by our dogs.
Back to 'normal' this week, with an appointment with my doctor today to start the hip repair ball rolling. As long as there is not another COVID flare up in NY or VT, I should be okay. I have decided that my new normal will be whatever the day brings. I hope your days bring you only good things. xo
19 comments:
Everything in my garden has been growing very slowly. I'm beginning to accept they will not be ready by summer's end. Turnips are the only exception but, bless them, not the only thing I want to be eating this winter. I like communities where you can be recognized by your dog. My kind of place.
Between the deer and their millions of babies and the groundhogs my garden too is sunk. Every single blossom or budding fruit to be had had.....they had it. I go to shoo them away, and I think they're laughing at me. I'm sure I heard the baby deer say, "Look Ma...here come the entertainment. Sigh..I guess there's always next year. If we make it. Man...that water lily is looking mighty good about now.
Ugh, gardens this year. I'm holding out hope for the potatoes. The rest I've emptied and, when not melting, I'm working on improving the soil. Look for Self Sufficient Me on youtube for a purely delightful garden fanatic. If he can't help you forgive and forget, nobody can.
Sorry to hear about the not-so-stellar garden season. You win some, you lose some. What is the plan for your hip?? I kind of like the anonimity provided by being masked up. I like not having to have conversations with people with whom I'm not really sure we know each other. Is it a parent? former student? person who knows one of my kids? lady from the post office? Hang in there for the tomato crop! :) -Jenn
I say torch the garden! I know you won't (it's just not in your nature to be a quitter) but having the disappointment (skinny rabbit, weeds and all) hang over your head for a month or so yet won't be a good thing. You have enough fresh veggie market stands in your area where you can get lots of goodies for putting by and the money spent will save your sanity. Even if you just leave the tomatoes wallowing in the weeds, you'll still get a good crop from them. You've got to prioritize things to think about and do . . . like other tasks to get ready for winter and the situation with your wonky hips. Does this mean anything as serious as a hip replacement??
I've never had (or even heard of) a Waterlily cocktail, but I like its lovely colour!
I had to stop mid post to say “you had a bumper crop of weed”???!😂
Ok I finished. What a potpourri lifestyle . If it gives you any solace I today pulled out two standard size tomato plants. Both heritage and both fruitless. However my little sun gold went nuts and is continuing to produce.
Not quite sure to make sense out if the two heritage plants. Being a newbie to the region I am not sure what the cause was. They flowered but never set fruit. Don’t know if it is the fact we had a almost no days over high 90’s ( sorry I had to mention that) or too much water too little water. Or perhaps they were started too late because if the fact winter had a tendency to be on a continuous recycling program most of June.
The rest of the garden did well. Expect the beans very sparse. I am still getting a large cherry type tomato, cakes and zucchini. Plus eggplant.
The new shop looks good. Will spend a bit more time there after the propane guy arrives. Waiting for the sox knitting news also.
i'm not even commenting on this weather. i'll let you guess what i'm thinking. you have far fewer restrictions than we do. most restaurants here are still closed or are only doing takeout. for the first time in 6 months, i ordered takeout and it was a big disappointment. this pandemic sucks.
It's been dry and hot and even with watering our gardens, they are all small plants, but I am getting green beans. Not sure on the root veggies as it has been so so dry here. I hear you on torching it. I'm done with the herb garden. It's a weed fest and most herbs have died. Sigh.
Goatldi, I was once told if a tomato plant doesn't set fruit to go out and give it a good shake for pollination.
Thanks for mentioning the propane guy; I forgot I was going to call them today. :)
You are quite welcome
And it is too late now but I will remember your shake for pollination suggestion. One would think if all that pollination was going on around them as all three of my tomato plants were planted in the same area that those two would have figured it out? Geesch!
I saw a friend yesterday who said her new hip (February) is doing great. So is mine (2003).
Waterlily cocktail. I need to Google that one!
Good luck on the hip stuff.
I, too, have a disappointing garden but the season isn't over yet – except for my tomatoes. All the starts I bought are strikes with the "herbicide carryover" blight, but I have two volunteers that look perfectly healthy! Eggplant and peppers are bearing lots of small fruits so that's something. I want Goatldi's produce. Who knew you could get CAKE?!? I hope you can get some relief soon for your hips.
I haven't put in a serious garden since the harvey hurricane and subsequent flooding. it ruined my raised beds filling them with god only knows what kind of weed and grass seed. I made a few feeble attempts but this year I did not plant even a single tomato plant. I'm aiming for spring to start over. glad you got out for some funa nd games and that waterlily looks luscious.
so sorry about your garden! We had kind of an off here too but at least we've got some tomatoes. I hope your hip comes out okay! Do you have to get a full new hip? I hope not but I understand if you do, I have arthritis in my lower back haha. My chiropractor keeps me badaided together!
Gosh! Hip replacement. I must have missed an other post where you announced that. Hope it all goes well.
That cocktail looks delicious! Oh, my garden has broken my heart this year. :(
Post a Comment