Mid-Season Garden Status

We are right in the middle of tomato and pepper season. So far it has been a very good season. We have been warm and relatively wet. Actually more than relatively wet, I have only watered 3 times. I have managed to can tomato, jalapenos, and pickles. This is just a portion of yesterday's haul. The little red peppers in the lower left are funny. We don't get enough sun to grow full-sized bell peppers so I planted a miniature version. They are exactly the same as a regular red bell, just small. This picture doesn't even include all the Anaheim and Poblano peppers that need to be roasted and turned into sauce. Currently we have peppers, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, basil, and beets. Pretty soon it will be time to start fall lettuce and spinach.

Our tomato selection this year has been pretty spectacular. Most if not all of these will be planted again next year.

Tomatoes:

- Striped German (pink)

- Wasipinicon Peach (yellow)

- Cherokee Purple (black)

- Black Krim (black)

- Sungold Select (orange)

- Black Cherry (black)

- San Marzano (red)

- Money Maker (red)

Wait, Project Started AND Finished

Well with the trailer, various house projects, garden, and a baby, we have more than a few unfinished projects around the house. One of the projects is to get the side deck usable for coffee, reading, etc. Earlier this spring I planted some night blooming Jasmine (don't ask me why), and it was really in need of transplanting. That was motivation to build a screen/trellis to provide some privacy. The back planter will get one as well to block the air conditioner. Sam is refinishing the chairs and sewing some covers. The table will also get a new top.

The boards are offset opposite front to back so we can thread the Jasmine up as needed. I'm surprised, these were only in 4 inch pots to begin with and they got quite large. Given some space, they should cover the screen by the end of the season.  

Shastoration Thursday - Mood Lighting

The electrical wiring on the trailer is in full swing. Most of it is probably pretty boring unless you are an electrical engineer or need to ride out the zombie apocalypse. One thing important in the apocalypse is to have low draw, dimming lights. I mounted remote controlled LEDs at the very bottom of the benches. When they are off you can hardly tell anything is there. There are pretty cool and can do a full range of colors and brightness. At night it will be nice to turn the lights down and relax.

 

 Or you can do a disco dance party with flashing lights.

 

The benches have been trimmed in 1/2 inch aluminum angle.

And wiring continues.

Wednesday

A not-so wordless Wednesday post.

Trailer is moving towards the finish. Electrical has started in earnest.

 The garden is in full swing. The tomatoes and peppers are loaded.

 Winston is getting big and mobile.



Mid-Summer Updates

Hard to believe that next week is fourth of July and the summer is half over. It has been a busy summer so far and seems like we haven't spent any time at home.

We took at trip to Alaska and spent some time at Denali national park. The snow was just melting and temperatures were mild.

This is a view from the cabin we stayed at.

Winston went for his first snowmobile ride. 

 

He was a pretty good sport and just hung out for hiking. Everything was brown when we got there and green when we left a week later.

 

We took nature cruise to Kenai Fjords national park, saw a glacier, and lots of humpback whales.

The tiki party was a big hit with Park Ranger playing the back patio. 

 We also attended a 60th anniversary party for Sam's grandparents in Wisconsin. Winston got to play with all the cousins.

The garden is is full swing. With the rather cool and wet spring moving into hot weather, the tomatoes and peppers are very happy. 

 

I harvested some of the garlic this weekend. If there is one thing we can grow it is garlic. This is a new type called Spanish Rojas that produced some giant heads with just regular looking leaves.

 

The wildflowers are in full bloom. Last year we had lots of bees, although about a month later, but I haven't seen many so far. 

Father's day consisted of bacon, the zoo, and gin and tonics. I would say it was very successful. The KC zoo has two baby orangutans. Winston pretty much just watched the other kids and ignored the animals. 

 Oh yeah, we still have a trailer. It is finally into the wiring stage. The revised plan is to try and get it skinned before snow.

Early May Garden Tour

This week we have hit 80 degrees a few times. The garden is in small but full swing. I ran out this evening to get some pictures, oh yeah it is snowing. Well as you can see the tomatoes are growing big under their buckets. Thank god the cucumbers are still inside.

Garlic is looking healthy. If we can grow anything it is garlic. I planted these in October and even with the cold snowy winter, they look great. 

We also have lettuce dialed in. Lettuce has been producing for about a month. Here is a shot of the lettuce under the hoop house in the snow. I cut everything completely back on Sunday. Four days later we are back in business. I have three lettuce varieties that really work, parris island cos which is an heirloom romaine, rouge d'hiver which is a red romaine lettuce, and black seeded simpson which is a good general purpose lettuce. I also started spinach inside and those add nicely to the flavor. 

Anybody There?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, not much going on here. Spring has sprung and the yard is starting to look green. Garden preparations are well underway and the garage and hoop houses are full of seedlings. It has been cold and snowy so not much has happened with house projects. It also seems that any intention I have of working on the trailer is foiled by a growing little boy and his refusal to sleep or let mom have any sleep. Even so, there has been a tiny bit of progress lately.

The upper cabinets are hung. I took the afternoon off on my birthday and hung cabinets. Funny what passes for relaxing activities these days. This cabinet over the kitchen counter will have sliding doors.

 

The other cabinet over the curb side bench will have a top hinged door. This upper cabinet will hold the stereo.

The bench framing has been completed. These will have hinged tops for storage and be skinned with walnut plywood too. The other recentish activities have included installing the shelf framing in the closet.  

As I have been saying for months now, I'm a few hours of work away from starting electrical.