APAD -- And a year ago today

I didn't get the camera out today -- busy with bread baking, stock making, stew cooking, garden planning, chicken coop designing, and girl-get-away scheming.   So, today's picture is from a Facebook theme I've been doing -- a year ago today.  We were on the Rio San Juan, Nicaragua.  This was a magical place.  Funny, when I was planning the trip, this place called to me but also gave me nightmares -- our balcony DID overhang the very fast moving river!  I lectured and lectured the girls and the only things that ever fell in were some Crocs -- one from each girl!  Gregg saved them both, in a kayak.

APAD (yeah, I know it's after midnight!)

And I'm sharing more than one picture, of more than one thing!

First, silly Gregorie

before she and I head out to check out the winter garden happenings.  We find:

Parsley:

and strawberry plants:

and carrots:

And pansies in bloom:

Garlic:

and onions:

And lemons:

Please don't pick the lemons!!!

Okay, Ma!

The family in the lane:

Home, sweet home.

APAD (a picture a day): Meet Crystal and Goldie

Happy New Year!

I"m behind on posts -- I have snow pictures and Christmas pictures and funny tales and my resolves and all sorts of good stuff from the last month to share, but tonight I'm starting with this.

This is a Grapevine sky.  And it is my picture of the day.  My dear friend Jenni made a resolution to post a picture a day on her blog and it seemed a good idea to me.  Pictures inspire words and my blog needs more words, more thoughts, more time.  More commitment.  So, I'm starting here.  I'm sure I'll blow this -- but it's not MY resolution!


Anyway, it's cool to see snow on these mountains -- just over an hour from "home".

Home is just where...

I have inspired thoughts on that topic in old journal that I can't find.  I should resolve to find it.

For now, good night.  And I owe you 6 pictures.

She Ain't Heavy

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A new friend

[to come]

Final Harvest

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stained

With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit

Beneath my shady roof; there thou may'st rest,

And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe;

And all the daughters of the year shall dance!

Sing now the lusty song of fruit and flowers.

-  William Blake, To Autumn, 1783

This bowl holds at least 6 quarts of mostly green cherry tomatoes!  There are a few ripe ones and maybe a quart of tomatillos buried in there.  I'm thinking bite size dill tomatoes..

The rodents left behind a few grapes -- I ate this lovely bunch today -- a refreshing snack while I toiled in the garden beds.

Alex LOVES worms. She helped Gregg turn over the compost heap and found handfuls.  She pulled out  this unlucky specimen to play with for a while before she returned him to his eating grounds. 

"There is an appointed time for everything.  

And there is a time for every event under heaven -

A time to give birth, and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted."
- Ecclesiastes, 3:1-2 

Today was the day of uprooting here in the tomato bed and in Bed of Chaos.

Most of the upper beds have been cleared for winter planting.  

There are still some potatoes to dig:

I left behind a few pepper plants and eggplant plants -- with hopes fading as fast as the autumn sun.

And the blackberry has spread onto the tipis.

And then, of course, there is a time to plant again.  

Gregg turned the soil in the beds over and now we'll add manure and compost to make a clean canvas on which to repaint the glory of a garden!

I can't wait for fresh seedlings and the start of another cycle.