Garden Fresh

Not only has the cooler weather given my garden a boost, but since the temperatures have dropped to the 80's, I've had to do less watering!

They say we should save our seeds from the first batch of crops, but as my beans have become more energized, I'm allowing several "late season" beans to dry on the vine to save for later.

All my Kentucky Pole beans have been producing. I'm not picking "bucket fulls" a day, but I'm able to save enough to have the occasional stiry fry!

My favorite dish is to add olive oil to the wok, cubed beef with worcestershire sauce, and minced garlic. After meat is med well, I add whatever is available from my garden - squash, bell peppers, green beans, peas, onions, okra, and frozen vegetables from the grocery store - broccoli, and zucchini. Toss till heated, then serve with rice and soy sauce.

Rain + Cooler Nights = Happy Garden

Guess what we had for supper tonight? Vegetable soup! Somewhat of a slim pick'ns, but it was nice to drop some homegrown veggies into a pot.

Thankfully we had been getting some rain - over 15" worth! More than we needed all at once, but I was happy I didn't have to water my garden for a few days.

The temperatures are climbing back up, but the nights seem to be dropping into the 70's, giving all my plants a much needed boost. Everything's blooming like crazy.


Cantaloupe

Bell pepper plants as tall as my fence....

Melons....

More melons...

For awhile there, I didn't think my Patty Squash would make it, but now the blooms are holding on. I'll try and capture my thriving Kentucky Beans on my next post. They are finally blooming and I'm really hoping for a lot of beans before the winter sets in. This is something we eat a LOT of around here. Practically with every meal.

Rescue Squirrel

This morning our dog stayed outside extra long, which was very uncharacteristic of her. Usually she does her business then bark at the sliding doors.

Curious, we called out for her. She took her time coming to the door and was sporting a guilty look.

Dogs wear their emotions on their sleeve. I knew she was dying to tell me something. So, she followed closely at my heels when I reopened the door. She took off ahead of me, and led me to the fence of my garden. I looked down and found this baby squirrel.

You see, we've turned our dog into a monster. All we have to do is say the word squirrel, and she'll dash for the door in a frenzy. I don't like squirrels either. They like my garden too much!

But as I stared down at this helpless breathing creature, I sat aside all animosity.


So now it's wrapped all snug and cozy in a soft shirt.

Digging out the heat lamp that I had used for our baby chickens, I gingerly cradled the squirrel in an old box and sat it under two lights.

Following the advice of a website, I created an oral hydration solution of warm water, 1 tsp of salt, and 3 tsp's of sugar.

Keeping wildlife is against the law, so I requested help on Craigslist for volunteers, and had to cancel my post in less than 20 minutes! My phone was ringing off the hook. So, in about five more hours, a woman who is trying to get her wildlife license, will be over to adopt.

In the meantime, we won't be calling him a squirrel, because we taught our dog to dislike squirrels.

As for my garden, I will learn to get along with these furry creatures. Somehow.