Mid-August Week in Photos

 The weather sulked a bit last week--partly over-cast skies brought welcome respite from the intense heat and humidity of July and the earlier August days.

A few showers, all too brief, at least 'laid the dust.'

I pulled out spent vines of cucumber and squash, uprooted the sorry remnants of tomato plants,

and J. turned the soil afresh using both the large tractor-pulled rotavator

and the Troybilt tiller.

Matt and Gina have labored at the garden space being resurrected at their house

and came up to take advantage of a sunnier strip here for a few things.

The late garden is pretty much in place and we have only to weed, water, monitor for insect pests and

hope for autumn weather that will give us a harvest.

J. took this photo Saturday evening when sunset reflected orange against

billowing clouds to the east.

Moments later, as twilight approached, a thunderstorm moved in with a pounding of welcome rain

and pleasant showers during the night.

A cool and misty morning; looking south down the Big Creek Valley.

Payne Janes Hill is wrapped in grey mist which obliterates the view of farm buildings and familiar landmarks.

The ancient pear tree [not fruit-laden this season] stands sentinel over the green and dripping landscape.

Mist rolls along above Big Creek as we sit on the east-facing porch.

The second planting of beans.

We are hovering over the melon vines awaiting the first of the cantalope.

Last year we had them by the wheelbarrow full by the first week of July.

Our early planting this year coincided with a cold and wet spell of weather---no early melons!

Green peppers have been great this year--I've been chopping them for the freezer.

No idea of the variety of grapes. The vine had gone rampant with neglect, even putting out branches which rambled along the top of the ground and then rooted in.

J. experimented on Friday with home made grape juice.

The field corn in the 15 acres J. leased to a neighbor.

It was a late planting due to the cold wet May, but is thriving.

Clusters of elderberries hang in shiny purple-black heads.

I expect I should be manufacturing jelly from them.

An elderly friend in our church during the Vermont years produced a much-anticipated elderberry pie each summer for a pot luck dinner.

Profligate and prolific trumpet vine.

The main vine has clambered up a crabapple tree, rampaged over the wood pile, cast out new plants within

an astonishing radius.

A sunflower sporting rain drops from a shower early on Sunday morning.

Bees hum in the sunflowers.

The 'hot' colors aren't my favorites, but when it comes to sunflowers

nothing is too gaudy.

Although the old apple tree at the edge of the back yard doesn't provide us with fruit,

it creates a welcome circle of shade for Pebbles and her water tub.

J. took this photo after the morning mist 'burned off.'

The sun is capricious today, the air sweet and cool.

Teasel stalks a 'bug" in the cat yard.

The kittens are uproarious at night.

When I shut down my computer and close the door on this room

we hear thumps and bumps as we prepare for bed.

This is the sight which greeted me when I came in this morning with bowls of 'poultry platter'

for the kittens.

Wilbur appears astonished that I don't appreciate his ingenuity with a roll of toilet paper!

Willow has learned that looking pretty has a mitigating effect when one has been a naughty cat!

She sprawls innocently on a bin of the genealogy materials which I've been sorting in odd moments.

The kittens and I say 'thank-you' for commiseration about fleas and suggestions for managing them.

I'm still finding a few on the kittens' tummies when I do a twice daily flea search, but the numbers are declining.  I augmented the Zodiac 'spot treatment' with a very cautious spritz of flea spray in furry armpits.

Brewer's yeast isn't available in our local market [think Wal-Mart--sigh] but I plan to get some on our next trip to the whole foods store.

I think it would be a good nutritional supplement for all the resident felines.