Miracle Melon

This started out to be a pity plant but became a miracle melon.
My son asked me this spring "Mom, could we please grow a watermelon plant this year?" I told him yes we could try but it probably wouldn't grow. As a true testament to how many hot days we had this summer, he actually had 3 grow. C is holding his "small" watermelon which was very yummy.

Hot Enough for Ya?

Yesterday was the second day the weather was over 100 degrees and it's supposed to be another scorcher today. (Yep! Another day of 105 with tons of humidity.) It was even 92 degrees at Astoria - out on the coast. Thank God I work in an air conditioned office!!

Speaking of air conditioning. Tomorrow I get the compressor replaced on my poor little heat pump. Couple weeks ago, it was 92 degrees outside and 93 inside. UGHH!!!!!! When the HVAC tech came out to check it, he did something to help it run at least a little bit until we could replace it. On the good side, my tomatos, egg plant and peppers are LOVING all this heat. I actually got my first ripe tomato last night. I don't think I've ever had red tomatos this early before. (though how much of it has to do with me not usually getting my garden planted until 4th of July - I'm not sure.)

Fatastic Fall

Today I experienced a fantastic fall.... Classic in all senses of the word.
It was an AMAZINGLY beautiful / hot day. (In the 90's and sunny.) After church, the kids picked plums, beans, zukes, cukes, blackberries and other squash. I picked up the cat from the vet and processed the fruits of their labors. I planted my grapes and worked on a couple flower beds, and got the supplies to do a project up in the goat barn / chicken coop and got enough propane that I'll be already to start canning outside on my camp stove. We didn't get as many plums as we ususally do - those freak snow storms in March and April did a number on the blossoms this year. I decided that I wanted more plums and the kids had picked all the easy ones. I just knew that I could get those ones that were "just right there" hanging with the big ladder. I got two small buckets full and then I went for the Motherlode in the middle of the tree high up. I put the ladder up against a big trunk branch and climbed up. I got a bunch of plums and was just about to climb down, when the ladder went crashing to the ground. I was holding on to some limbs so when the ladder fell suddenly, I had my safety plan in place. Yep - I was swinging about 8-10 feet off the ground. Then I jumped and landed on the soft bark chips I used for landscaping. I nearly landed on the ladder which would have been very very bad, so I've made a executive management decision....We're done picking plums this year.

Well, the blackberry pie my daughter B (who is a fabulous cook) should be out of the oven soon and so I'd better go enjoy the fruits of her labors...