Gardening into Oct?

Yes! Because none of our tomatoes or sweet peppers ripened on the vine! So we picked them all and put them in paper bags to ripen.

 Approximately 1/3 of what was picked - good thing there's still fresh basil in the garden to go with it

 The few that had started to turn

And a friend helped us get all these pears - and they suddenly all ripened  at once!

Golden Flower

A was out playing in the yard and then she spotted it near the ravine.....

A "golden flower!" Just like in Tangled! Imagine, having one in your own backyard! That's us! It is quite close to the one in the movie.




Then there were also some beautiful volunteer sunflowers through the gate/fence

Ground Hogs & More

Here's one of them. Yes, there are at least one adult and 2 youth residing in the back ravine. They are getting quite comfortable in being seen eating around the yard. Maybe too comfortable as seeminly overnight all the cilantro was eaten to the stalks. And then as tomato & pepper plants were planted they too have been attacked. Previous years nothing has bothered them until they have ripe tomatoes - chipmunks will occassionally eat them. Apparently the additions to the family have made them expand their appetites!

As for the rest of the garden: no fence (in need of repairs) around the strawberries or the "garden" = chipmunks get this years crop of strawberries and it's uncertain if anything else that managed to get planted will grow.....bunnies are abundant as usual and as much clover as the Lewis' have for them, somehow everything else still seems better.

Already the lack of fresh zuccinni, squash, strawberries and possbily peppers & tomatoes is being greatly lamented.

Environmental Violation

Currently the house across the street from the Lewis' is vacant. But as spring moved closer to summer it was evident that something had to be done with the growing grass. T had intended to mow it one Saturday when he did his own as he weekly does. After all it was giving a poor impression of the neighborhood. But then it rained that Saturday. The following Wednesday J watched a city employee paste the unwanted orange "note." Too late, but at least now maybe someone else would take action.

The next day, Thursday, J opens the mail to read this:

Environmental Violation Notice for the Lewis'! So much for thinking the neighbor's were giving the neighborhood a bad wrap! But wait, if you read the notice you'll see that the notice was made on Monday! Only 2 days following the skip of mowing due to rain! And then where's the 10" of grass? See if you can spot it:
Looks like a serious Environmental Violation, doesn't it? After walking the yard, J finally found some:
Luckily weather cooperated the following Saturday and the lawn was cut, and the tall grass on the corner amidst the rocks were pulled. It's supposed the Lewis' shouldn't be let off easy just because the neighbor's has more grass over 10" than them. They also noticed several other neighbors all out mowing their lawn those next few days - maybe they had been in violation also?

Snow Storm!

The Lewis' did get hit by the big storm that swept across the nation a few weeks back. The past week nearly melted every little pile of snow left....but then last night another couple inches came. Though it has warmed up considerably....the Lewis family is anxious for even warmer weather and looking forward to playing OUTSIDE! Here are the "wow" pictures of the storm:
A & B preparing to help mom shovel
first to get the door open.....
it wasn't easy - the kids were getting anxious, as if mom wasn't letting them go out to play!
And then then got to have their fill of lots of snow to move!
Playing in the snow with neighbors

Exactly how much snow fell? Who knows, because the wind drifted it so much. The porch had a good 4 feet, but some places in the yard were nearly bare!