Autumn blues

The days are getting shorter and cooler. The last full day of summer is reportedly this Sunday. It makes me get preemptorally depressed thinking about the cold winter getting closer and closer each day.

Warm, beautiful fall days are still ahead of us; plus, the changing colors of trees in the next month. I do love fall. But I'm still sad to see the garden start to wither up with each cold night.

This year's growing season was an improvement over the past two years. The biggest reason for improvement: having a dog. Sadie did an excellent job scaring the squirrels away from the garden. Two of the squirrels met unlucky fates. Still, she couldn't be outside all of the time and they did chew up countless tomatoes and just about every zucchini and squash. At least this year we got to eat some of the actual tomatoes ourselves!

I planted a full two dozen tomato plants last spring. We got a good crop, but I should have gotten more. Our garden plot is becoming more shaded each year by the giant ash tree in our backyard as well as neighbor's trees. Next year my plan is to move the garden plot to the side of the house, which gets more sun. I put four tomato plants, some beans, and broccoli there this year to test it out, and everything did pretty well except for the broccoli. I never seem to have success with broccoli, unlike the neighbors who get the most massive broccoli plants that produce enough shade to have a picnic under.

My favorite tomato varieties this year were the Cherokee Purple (heirloom), the Black Cherry, the Persimmon (heirloom), and the Celebrity. The Beeksteak did OK. The Pruden's Purple was good but didn't give much fruit and the Better Boy was the worse of the bunch. The Celebrity and Persimmon tomatoes have been simply delicious, the later being a beautiful golden fruit.

So next year, more of those, plus some more. I'll use manure and compost the plants more heavily. That, with the additional sun, will hopefully mean even more tomatoes in 2009.

Oh, and I'll probably plant some other veggies.

More gardening!

We are now exiting the frost danger and it's time to get plants into the ground. This morning we went to the annual plant sale at the state fairgrounds. We got there five minutes after the start to find a line with a 90 minute wait. So instead we went out for lunch at a Turkish deli across from Hamline University that Jen's been trying to bring me to during her entire law school career.

Eventually, we got back to the plant sale and waited in line for about 45 minutes. The wait was worth it. Inside we got most of the various heirloom tomato varieties I wanted, including the cool named 'coyote,' which is a sweet, white, grape-sized tomato that I haven't been able to buy the last two years. We also got a bunch of nice looking annuals and some basil plants. My hop is now to recruit Meredith's help to get this stuff all into the ground! We also need to seed the remainder of the veggie garden.

Today is swimming lesson day for Meredith. Afterwards, we might go to the farmer's market across the street if it's not too cold and if Meredith's not too tired and cranky.

Trees and butterflies

We had a wonderful evening yesterday. The butterflies that Grandma Cathy got Meredith through the mail emerged from their chrysalises and were ready to be let go outside. Meredith gave a tearful goodbye to the butterflies, but was happy to see them flying around the yard an hour or so later. Some promises were made to her regarding future butterflies to help her manage her feelings of loss with the release of her new friends.

We also planted a tree in Elaine's honor last night. When Meredith was born, we planted a Zester apple tree in our front yard for her. It has grown tremendously in the last three odd years. A Cortland apple tree was selected for Elaine and planted about 12 feet from her sister's tree. The little stick of a tree will have to do some catch-up growing the next few years, as we're sure Elaine will undergo herself. Meredith was a good helper in the planting of the tree.

And we can't forget the big news, which is Jen has finished up law school! This three year journey is now all done and will culminate in graduation next week. She'll be able to put juris doctor (J.D.) behind her name. Next up for Jen is to prepare for and take the 2-day bar exam this summer in order to be a practicing attorney in Minnesota. Of course, as a spouse, I have to brag about how wonderful of a job Jen did in law school. She is summa cum laude and is ranked first in her class at graduation. (Oh, and she raised one infant/toddler/preschooler and had another child on the way.) Hooray for law school being done!




About to release the three butterflies.


Elaine was clearly intrigued with the pretty butterflies.


Just a little Cortland apple tree.


The whole family posing in front of the tree (don't miss it!)





Proud grandparents

Blooming out all over

This week I've been back to work. Jen's finishing up law school. And the grandparents are having fun with Meredith and Elaine. Pretty mundane stuff. Elaine is now one month old and growing well. She topped 9 pounds at her doctor appointment this week.

I'm really happy because the leaves came out this week and everything is finally green. We put some cold weather plant seeds (carrots, peas, lettuce) in the garden and await their growth. Meredith's caterpillers, which she got from Grandma Cathy, are now in their chrysalises and will emerge in the coming days.

Pictures...



Meredith taking care of her baby...


Elaine loves to swing. (Taking after her sister!)








Happy Girl!