Half Way To Christmas!! WHAT?????

I always have the best of intentions, to begin seriously thinking about Christmas, at the half way to, mark.  But how can it possibly already be here?   We have scaled way back for the holidays, and I make a good many of the gifts we give.  So now it is time to get busy.   Maybe manana.
I am missing my camera SO much!  I take photos EVERY day!  Greg is going to send it in to be fixed, hopefully this weekend.  My photos are just so/so.  And all are from my iphone.
The weather has been lovely.  Cool and overcast in the morning.  Making it nice to do the morning chores before it gets too hot.  The garden continues to be a favorite place for me to be.  I putter out there first thing in the morning after taking the feed out to the chickens.   I have grown sunflowers a few times before.  But never have they been this healthy looking.   I smile every time I see them.
They are dinner plate size, and new buds are opening every day.  Yesterday while I was doing the watering for a neighbor who is on vacation, I could see their happy yellow faces from quite a distance away.

 I have planted all of my pumpkins now.  I planted regular jacks, and Big Mac's.  The Big Mac's grow to be 100 pounds and over.

In my front planter, a volunteer came up.  For Fall I do a display of dried corn stalks and I pile up mounds of  pumpkins around the corn stalks.  When I disposed of them, a couple of the bottom pumpkins had broken, leaving behind a few seeds.  It started off with several pumpkins, but now only one remains.

I also put two small mounds in this flower bed, and planted new pumpkin seeds.  This planter will be filled with vines growing all willy nilly in no time at all.
Next to the corn patch, I have planted Indian Corn.  I have never grown this before, and am eager to see what I wind up with.  They are popping their little heads up out of the soil, and standing like soldiers at attention.

 The corn is very close to being ready to harvest.  I have one that is twins!  There are two cobs of corn growing in one husk.

In the past, I have always had three ears per stalk. This year, some have 4 or more!  Weird!

I got my very first tomato, and it looks like there will be many to follow.  I planted 7 plants, and have an additional 2 volunteers, also loaded with fruit.
Last night, I picked a few heads of broccoli for dinner, and also all of the salad fixings.

Last weekend my Mom hosted a graduation BBQ for my niece Deanna who just graduated from high school.  Loaded down with multiple awards and scholarships, I might add!  I made my Mom a big basket of goodies from my garden.

It was so pretty that she didn't want it put away, she left it out on the counter top for all to see and enjoy, like a floral display.  I had a bunch of ripe avocados, so I made a big bowl of guacamole.  I fire roasted one of my jalapenos from the garden, and sliced it right on top for garnish.

Last night, I made Nana's Chicken.  She has been so very on my mind.  We all miss her so.  Usually I make this with chicken thighs, but I had a package of breasts, so used those instead.

I wish you could smell this dish cooking!  There is no more comforting aroma!!!   Served over rice, with
fresh picked broccoli and my own garden fixings, made for a delicious meal.

If you would like to make Nana's chicken, go the search bar on my blog, and type in Nana's Chicken.  The post with recipe will pop up.
The thrifting has been a bit sparse lately. Noah is out of school, and I prefer to do my treasure hunting alone.
One day last weekend, I popped into one of my favorite haunts and found these adorable vintage glass spice jars.

I also found this set of 4 Libby's vintage drinking glasses.  I love the yellow floral detail.  This is the exact size I like for putting a handful of clipped herbs into, and resting on my window sill for easy access when cooking.

I also found a pretty dress.  We are going to an evening wedding in San Diego this weekend, and I will be wearing it.  It was in perfect condition, except that the should strap was missing.  I went to Joann's and bought wide, lingerie double fold elastic and made the straps and sewed them on.  I even have a pair of pumps in the right color.  And a pretty lacy black shaw to wear across my shoulders that will finish the ensemble.  What a steal!

So I will be hanging up my gardening clothes, and getting all gussied up.  Maybe even a mani and pedi!!   Then it is off to San Diego to celebrate a special couple.
You can take the girl out of the garden, but you can't take the Garden out of the Girl!

Before I go, I want to say hello to my new followers!  I will be out to visit all of you!!  As always, thanks so much for stopping by!  Go out and make it a GREAT day!!!
XO  Kris