Coming down the home stretch

Well two weeks from today, I will be driving home. Doesn't seem possible that summer is almost over. It was 52 degrees this morning though and getting quite cool tonight too. Of course was a beautiful 70 something today so was a really nice day.

tomatoes and apples

Sunday canned tomatoes and more today. Also froze some apples and canned some apples both of those days.

Yesterday went to Heartwood in Abingdon with my neighbor to look at the Southwestern Virginia crafts that was on display there.  Lost of beautiful things - pottery, weaving, southern musical  instruments (banjos and related instruments), weavings, sculptures, artistic clothing, woodworking items, etc. One of the men who plays tennis with our Wednesday group had several sculptures on display (and for sale of course) that are made out of old tools. Interesting and very different. Also stopped in the Olive oil store and tasted a lot of oil and vinegar pairings and in the craft store in north Abingdon. We bought a couple of things at each place.

This morning went with same neighbor to the farm (that for me is still called Brookdale, even though owners have changed the name) and learned how to milk a cow. Interesting process and amazed at the young lady's (who owns the cows) ability to milk it so rhythmically.  Guess when you do it everyday it become easier.  She only had two cows to milk this morning as one is going dry and another of her cows just had a baby, so is feeding, versus being milked. They have plans to expand and eventually will do it by machine, but right now continues to do manually.   Stopped on the way home to see another neighbor because the lady I was with is hoping to buy her chicken coop if she can figure out how to move it to her property. Had a nice chat with Deniese who we don't see much since she has two jobs and tries to keep up with her animals, mowing hay, and just general upkeep.

Goldenrod

More weeds (like goldenrod, hellenium, forget me not - among others)  than flowers this time of year, though have a few. The butterfly bush is still blooming; there are a few Hydrangeas still blooming, lots of sweet pea, some phlox, and the anemones are just beginning to bloom. I  cut all the other growth around them, to give them more room.

Anemone

Forget-me-
not

Phlox

Sweet Pea

In the garden, of course there many green tomatoes, some don't look so good, but they are also good ones turning red (or yellow) slowly - hopefully most will turn before I leave.

Brussel Spouts Forming

Surprise Beets

Green pepper

 Some beet seeds decided to germinate very late, and now there are a couple of beet plants. I can see a little beet right at the dirt line but I don't expect these to be ready before I leave, but my sister-in-law will use them I hope.

Limas and string beans

Butternut Squash

String beans have slowed down, though the 2nd planting is flowering - not sure if will produce before I leave. Limas are beginning to be ready and we had some of those for dinner tonight. Still have a lot of Swiss Chard (and have deydrated and frozen some of that), green peppers, banana peppers, and some yellow squash.  Brussel sprouts are trying to form, but not sure  if they will ever get big enough to eat. - several of the neighbors tried these this year,  So far none of us have any.  Potatoes will be ready to harvest next week.  Have lots of butternut squash and the vines seem to be withering where the fruit of the fruit formed and grown wild elsewhere, so think there will be a lot of those - already promised to several folks in neighborhood. I seem to be only one who has them this year.  Still have some rhubarb to pick as well. Grapes are turning purple but birds are going after them quickly. Think I will get some, but nothing like last year's harvest!

Lots to do before I leave here, so will be a busy few weeks.