A New Month Brings A New Season

Seems that summer is unwinding. You would think I would be sad to see it end but to be honest I am more than ready for the crisp auntmn air. It will be sad to finally put the garden to bed till spring but it is time and there is always the next season to look forward to. We are already making plans on the changes we will make.

I think the reason I will be happy to see the end of summer is that we have just gone through the longest drought in history in the Canadian maritimes. Horrible heat and no rain for 3 months except for a freak storm that pushed through in July, fell some trees and then exited just as abruptly as it entered. We think a huge downdraft thumped our beautiful meadow as when the storm left there was a huge indent in the grasses and wildflowers that is still there today.

The river is almost bone dry. They say it hasn't been this dry for over 40 years. It is just a trickle right now and we are really looking forward to seeing the water level raise when the rains arrive. Hopefully the rain will come before permafrost sets in.

On the possitive side of things, we are are getting cooler nights. The thermometer is getting close to 0° Celcius. Some neighbors have had frost but so far it hasn't reached us. We are probably sitting a tad higher than they are and my garden beds are raised. I think that makes a big difference but to be safe I am covering up my strawberries and a few other plants at night time.

With the cooler night time temps we are getting a good morning dew and even though there is no rain in our area yet the morning dew it doing wonders at bringing the lawn back to life. It is showing signs of green sprouts. Hopefully that's grass and not weeds. I hope it is helping with the wells too. We have gone through a whole lot of water with the gardens this summer but we are fortunate that the neighbor told us to use his water. He is only here for a couple of weeks at a time twice a year so we are pretty fortunate there.

Our well water is holding out. The neighbor across the road says he has never seen anyone's well actually dry up before but then it has never been this dry around here for so long. Our beautiful front lawn Bob worked so hard to create and tend has turned brown and when our resident grounhog finally ate the last of the clover he vacated for greener grounds. Hopefully that will be the last we see of him.

In the garden the corn is really growing tall and for just having 8 plants there are a whole lot of cobs in production. We will be testing to see if we can pick them in a coupIe of weeks. I also have to pick the jalapeno peppers to pickle and the bell peppers along with the rest of the tomatoes for salsa. I might make some pasta sauce with the left overs after that. Hate to be wasteful. I have to get some more manure before I can transplant the strawberries into the ground for the winter so I want their roots to stay strong so they can settle before shutting down for the season. I will transplant them next week. All that are really left in the raised beds are the Swiss Chard and carrots. I'm not worried about the carrots because they are fine under the ground and the Swiss Chard, well, I hate to admit it, but it is time for it to go. We have eaten so much of it this summer and I have frozen a few bags full for the winter. Yet it still keeps reproducing. One neighbor said if I want to cut it all back she will take it so I might just chop it all down, bring to her and then pull the roots. I chopped the celery down and now it is growing back with a vegence. Can't kill the thing (not that I want to)! So now the garden isn't as time consuming Bob has been able to get the back porch rebuilt. Not bad since all he intended to do was replace a rotting floor board. That man doesn't just stop at one board! He's replaced every board and finished rebuilding the steps so they are widered and shorter for me. I am short and they were way too steep for my comfort but I never complained. He just knows me and can see me struggle at times. Especially in the winter when I have my heavy winter boots on. I go out every morning no matter the weather to feed my birds so he wants me to feel safe on the steps. At least that is what he says. It couldn't be because he is just obsessing over silly little things. No... not my Bobby! hahaha. Now we are spending more time in the back yard we are really feeling the loss of not being able to have our evening fires. We always love to have a fire in the firepit after all the days work is done but have not been able to light a fire all summer so the firepit remains covered and we sit by it occasionally but we just don't stay long cause it isn't the same without the fire going. It is just too dry out there and we do live in the middle of a dense forest. There are wild fires all over the province. We have been fortunate thus far but it is still a worry for all. A fire would devastate our little community but what can we do except trust each other and those travelling through like the loggers and campers as they drive past on the roads. We have seen them through some pretty nasty stuff out the windows so I don't think they would even think twice to throw a cigarette butt out too. Then of course there is the possibility that rain will bring lightening so we can only hope it comes in the form of light rain when it does arrive, which isn't too common around here. It is all out storms or nothing. So there is that in the back of everyone's mind also. Even still, it would be nice to wake up to rain of some sort soon.

When all is said and done, however, Fall is my favorite season of the year. How can you not love the refreshing temps and the bright, bold colors. It is our last horrah till we settle in for the cold winter months to follow. Of course, that has it's perks too.

Hoping you are having a great start to the Autumn season wherever you are. All My Best Leslie :)