Dog Days Of Summer

Before I begin my post today, I want to say how much I am thinking of those in CO who were involved in that terrible shooting.  My son was at the midnight showing of Batman last night with his girlfriend, here in our town.  This could have been anyone, anywhere.  It is just so hard to even comprehend.
Although summer is zipping by quickly, we are enjoying every bit of it.  The little ones spent two weeks at a fantastic Vacation Bible School that broke up summer a bit.  We had a terrific vacation up in our local mountain community with the whole family.  I have enjoyed gardening, and swimming, and reading a few books, and  hooking a few projects.  My sewing room waits for cooler weather.
We have a couple more little trips to look forward to, and soon enough, the summer will be over.  Already, the days are noticeably shorter.  My garden has been producing massive amounts of beautiful tomatoes, squash, onions, herbs, cantaloup, cucumbers, beans, peas and more. 

Every night I bring in a bucket full of something.  And a late egg is often found in the coop as well.

Each summer I have learned a bit more about gardening.  What does well here in our climate.  What does not.  What I want to plant more of next season.  Better ideas for pairing certain veggies, and ways to stake and support them better.
My tomatoes have gone plum crazy, and instead of trying to offer any more support and risk uprooting, or breaking off nearly ripe fruit, I have opted to allow them to grow willy nilly, and rest their heavy fruit laden branches against my wrought iron fencing.

Planted in between all of those tomatoes, are bunches of arugula.  A huge favorite for our family, and I will certainly be planting more of that next spring!  We like it on pizzas, in salads, on sandwiches.  It has a wonderful peppery flavor!
This little cherry tomatoe plant has been a top producer of mine.  I will be planting even more of those next year.  They are so unbelievably delicious and sweet!!!

I pop them into my mouth, one after the other, like grapes.  They burst with sun warmed sweetness in my mouth, and remind me of when I was little and my brother Mark would say, "EWWWWW.....cherry tomatoes are like eyeballs that squish in your mouth!!"   I thought I didn't like them because of his proclamation.  But alas, I do!!!
I have planted pretty zinnias and johnny jumpups in the garden boxes where I have harvested other plants that left bare spots begging for something to grow.

Soon there will be pretty colorful shoots where only a seedling is visible.  There is still plenty of green onions, sage, parsley, peppers, eggplant, spinach and cantaloup on the back wall in that box.
That sad little shoot to the left of the green onions is a bunch of basil I rooted in the kitchen, but I am not sure if it will make it or not.
The strawberries have been sweet and juicy, but I didn't plant nearly enough of them.

I walked out early this morning to say hello to my hens, and let them out of the coop, and into their run.  They will stay in the run until they have all left me a colorful oval present in the nest boxes.

They will peck at the earth underneath the shade of the big avocado trees, until about noon, when I let them out to have the run of the grove.
On my way out to the coop, I snapped this photo of the wicker set out on the outer patio where we bbq, and often have our summer meals.  We sit at this shaded set so often in the late afternoons.  I have discovered that an old King sized fitted sheet works beautifully to keep the set and cushions covered and clean when not in use.

It is going to be another scorcher here in our  area. 

On my way back into the house, I gave all of my patio plants a little drink before they begin to wilt in the heat of the day.

If you use the large jugs of liquid laundry detergent, once empty and washed, they make excellent watering jugs.  Erika bought this.  I don't buy laundry soap anymore, because I prefer to make my own.  I just used an awl to poke some holes into the lid and there  you go, a watering can.

My nasturtiums have made a bit of a comeback, after I pruned them way back from their unrulyness. Is that a word?

Our avocado trees have had quite a year! They are producing avocados in mass quantities, like we have never seen in the 20 years we have been  here.  We are keeping everyone we know in guacamole, and the extras have gone to a food bank.

If you come over, there is always a bucket of them by the door to reaach down and take a few home with you.
I am doing something this summer that I haven't done in a very long time!  Letting my hair grow!  More often than not, you will find me in some sort of a crazy, bohemian "do" like this.

I am about a month away from really liking it.  But I shall persevere!!  Gennifer needs to shape it up a bit for me, but I am going to keep going til I get it to the point where I can do more with it. 
This morning I have all three of my niskitchitzels.  They are playing nicely here in the playroom, while I write this post.

 As the mercury rises, I am thinking that we will be spending some time here.

Gennifer had to hit the Nordstrom sale.  Ahhh, I remember those days, when I did that too.
For now, Ducey and I say "try to keep cool wherever you are spending your summer days."

Gennifer returned, I already posted this blog, but I am back with a couple pictures of what she did with my hair after I whined that I couldn't do anything with it.
She sat me down at my bathroom vanity, and pulled out a comb and a box of clips, some hairspray, and a rubber band.  With lightening fast fingers, she did this.

She showed me how to secure the headband to keep it from slipping off my head, and gave me a couple of other ideas for ways to wear my hair as it is growing out.

Thanks Genny....and the cookies and tea were SO good!!!!  Thank you!

XO  Kris