Friday, July 26, 2013

Pumpkin Harvest


Hello, and Happy Friday!  I am back today with some pictures of my garden, and what is being harvested.  I continue to harvest a good bucket of goodies every day.  But I have now pulled up several of my spent veggies, making room for my Fall planting.  I harvested all of my ripe pumpkins, making room for the many left still growing.  I clipped them, one by one, and rinsed them off, leaving them on the driveway, as I went along.
I heaped them up into my garden wagon and hauled them into the back where my garden is.
There are dozens on the vines now, that about the size of volleyballs.
And dozens more on the newest patch that I planted, about softball size.
The vines are spilling out every which way, of the big clay pot that I planted them in.  I can see this from my kitchen window, and I love looking at the bright yellow blooms every morning.
A few days ago, I took down the fencing around my garden that kept the chickens out.  Thinking that they really couldn't do too much harm now that most had been harvested.  WRONG!
They feasted on the rest of my cabbage, and completely finished off my new basil.  Even had quite a few ripe tomatoes that they could reach.  Stinkers!!!
I will leave the corn stalks in the ground until they are completely brown.  As October approaches, I will bundle them up and use them for decorations around the front of the house for Fall.
This is garden harvest I brought inside.
Piles of peppers.  Green beans, zucchini, always a few zucchini out there!  The last of the cucumbers, a few heirloom tomatoes, and cantaloupe.
As darkness began to fall, I was stopped in my tracks to watch the night sky put on a show.
I walked to the back of the grove, to get as much view the night sky as I could.
Walking past a reminder of piled debris in the middle of the grove, that we always have work to do out here.
Heading back to the house, and noticing my weathervane silhouetted by the night sky.
We are having some much cooler temps here.  But with them, are clouds and mugginess.  Last night we went to our friend's house for dinner.  We sat outside, and enjoyed the balmy evening, over good food, with treasured friends.  There was an outdoor concert nearby at the Civic Center that we could easily hear and enjoy.  A cover band for the 70's group Journey.  I didn't have my camera, but my husband took a photo of my best friend Jae and I on my phone and I put it on my Insta Gram feed.  Such a special evening, reminding me how blessed we are to have such special people in our lives.  Friends come and go, but the ones who are there to love and support through the rough times, those are the friends we want for life.  My husband and I left their house last night with full tummies, and full hearts.  Thank you Tom and Jae.  We love you!!!!!
Happy Weekend everyone!  We are going fishing on the lake tomorrow with our daughter Erika and grandson Noah.
XO  Kris

21 comments:

Barbara F. said...

What a haul of produce, Kris! Love the pumpkins. Beautiful photos, too. xo

Teresa Kasner said...

Wow, Kris.. your garden is giving you quite the bonanza.. and it's all organic with no chemicals.. how divine! I agree with you how cherished good friends are. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Between Me and You said...

I have to ask - what are you going to do with all of those pumpkins? What a haul! My boss's chickadees won't eat anything veggie unless it's cooked first!They're a spoiled new lot (the robbing red fox got all of the last ones).
Have a lovely weekend, Kris. x

Debbiedoos said...

Pumpkins!!! I am so jealous Kris. What an awesome crop of goods you have.

Cathy said...

What an amazing harvest. It's easy for readers to forget how much work goes into producing all those veggies. I'm a farm girl and I remember it very well. Can't believe pumpkins are ripe so early. Will they keep to Thanksgiving.

Unknown said...

Well, look at you Ms. Green thumb. I still am amazed just how far ahead you are to us. I'm just now seeing some red on my tomatoes. Didn't get any volunteer pumpkins this year, which I'm sort of sad about. I don't really have the space to plant, so I do like when the squirrels do it for me. Enjoy your weekend.

Poppy said...

Pumpkins, already?!! A very healthy and wealthy harvest, Kris!

xo
Poppy

Deb~in~Denver said...

Love all the pumpkins! I'm hoping to plant some next summer in a horse trough, I can't believe how well the ones in your pot are doing! What a gorgeous night sky, glad it is cooling off for you. Cherished friends certainly are a treasure, nothing can take their place. Enjoy your weekend!

Deb

Anonymous said...

Holy Smoke Kris Can't believe your so close to me this part of Southern California.
I'll start following your blog.

God bless.

Viola

Mereknits said...

I bet your good friends are just as thankful for you and your husband, to have good friends you need to be one.
Love your bountiful garden.
Hugs,
Meredith

Gracie Saylor said...

What an awesome post, Kris!!! Thanks! The bounty of your garden, beauty in all directions, and faithful friends fill my heart with gratitude, too. I hope you have successful fishing trip as well :)
Gracie xx

Jeanna said...

Nice looking veges Kris! You do an amazing job in the garden. The pumpkins with the grandkid's names on them are my fav!

Love your pictures, the weather vane is frame worthy for sure :)

So nice to have a sweet visit with REAL friends...a true blessing.

Have a wonderful weekend.

All good wishes...Jeanna

priscilla said...

Love all your garden posts ! You sure are getting a lot out of your garden ! Such nice pumpkins !

Debbie said...

Wow...look at all those pumpkins! You really have enjoyed a bountiful harvest! Glad to see you are just as rich in the friend department! Enjoy your week-end Kris!

pembrokeshire lass said...

You are so much further ahead than we are. I loved seeing the beautiful colour of all your harvested fruits of the garden! So much to enjoy looking at and eating. Isn't it lovely to spend time with good friends?! We spent time with. Dear friends a few days go. We sat and chatted and really didn't notice the hours fly by! You are blessed when you have such good friends! Joan

Reginas Cottage said...

wow.......so many pumpkins.
have a nice day,
regina

Susanne Tyree said...

Your pumpkin patch sure did well this year. Do you can the pumpkin for pies or just use them for decoration in the fall? We had a rainy morning with a 2 hour down pour and then the sun came out and a bit more rain and then the cooler air. It almost feels like fall already. Our temps tonight are suppose to be down in the 50's, wow, and here we are at the end of July. Guess I can turn the ac off for now.
(((HUGS))) Susanne :)

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Yup Kris, it's not hard to know who your true friends are. Love the pumpkins in the cart next to the corn stalks. Before we know it we'll be decorating for Fall. I have lots of Sunflowers that just popped up out front. Hoping they last for a while. They are not nearly as big as last years, but they are super tall. I planted pumpkins between the roses. Not sure it was the smartest idea, but I love the look. Just hope it doesn't kill my roses. The vines are spreading like crazy and I have a lot of small pumpkins on. My tomatoes have been so slow. Just picked the first one today. Lots on, but not ripe. Always have plenty of zucchini, but I love it. Need to make some bread.
hugs,
Jann

Astri said...

Now that's a plethora of a harvest. Goodness! What will you do with it all? I love all your cooking ideas.

Sunny Simple Life said...

Oh wow your garden is fabulous!! I love all your pumpkins. And oh those bad chickens. Hope they weren't you know who. I used your photo of my pumpkin sling for my post for tomorrow. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

So jealous of those pumpkins. My plants did nothing, then got mildew and died. I am going to try planting mine in a pot next year...I didn't know your could but I have had so little success with in the ground pumpkin plants!!!