Fall Frenzy

It’s been a while since the last post. A lot has been going on and I’m having a hard time keeping up not only doing what needs to be done, but writing about what needs to be done. I think it’s a bit of a case of denial or maybe just simply avoidance. Or both. In any case, here’s the story.

We spent Jett’s Fall Break (Woohoo, Fall Break!, pump fist in the air and chug a juice box) in Fort Lauderdale where we got our fix of decent shopping, food, friends and family. Once again the traffic and general stress of the area had me ready to go home by Sunday, but Jett was begging to let him stay. I think that had more to do with being spoiled by grandparents than anything else. We are looking forward to another urban fix around Christmas.

Pecans are flying. The trees are very happy this year and spreading the cheer with beautiful nuts…everywhere! It looks like a pecan explosion. Jett says we’re a pecan factory. And it kind of feels like it. Every day I’m out there picking up nuts and every day there’s more in their place. It’s kind of like a bad dream, but I guess it’s not really bad, just relentless and exhausting. However, it should pay off in the end. We’ll sell most for about $2/pound. The rest will go to friends (you are warned), families, pecan pies and maybe some turtles or brittle.

Finally, the canning of pears has ended with one last frenzy of pear butter infused with rosemary and vanilla bean. I’m done! For now. Until I figure out what to do with all the hot peppers. I’ve been freezing or drying them, but a woman I met at the last Green Market has me seeking out ideas for pepper jelly. I don’t know if I have much canning patience left in me, but you never know. I guess it depends if I find any inspiring ideas for peppers. Other than that, I don’t think there’s anything in the garden that requires canning. No, wrong. Cucumbers need pickling. I’m looking forward to that. I love pickles!

October’s Green Market was good. I sold all but 5 jars of various pear concoctions. We sold two of our neighbor’s homemade walking sticks. And of course the pet food. It was a beautiful day. The weather is cooling off, cloudless blue skies and a slight breeze. We’ve sort of made friends with the all natural beef people (Jett’s a big fan of their meatballs), the soap making family (chocolate mint soap, yum) and the Wiccan couple who sell a hodgepodge of lavender honey, body scrubs and aloe plants. Once again, bartering took place: an aloe plant, almond pear cake, salsa, more soap and 10 lbs of all natural beef (which was immediately made into many meatballs) came home with us.

The gardens are doing okay. We’re having some issues with grasshoppers and rust on the peas/beans, but tomatoes, bok choy, potatoes, cukes and some of the lettuces seem to be doing well.

The neighbors have already built their new garage/cottage and the house is not far behind. We’re going to try and go the clumping bamboo route for a hedge if we can find a decent priced supplier nearby. Thanks for all your suggestions.

And, oh yeah, there’s a rattlesnake living under our house.