Look to the Skies

Or in other words, more clouds!

Hey, I've been saving up--but they can't wait forever!

Mostly cumulous this time around.

Those puffy white clouds get me every time.

The first picture also serves to illustrate the topography of my town.

This is not the top of my hill, but one of many in town.

Everywhere you live is on a hill, if you live here.

Nice combination of stratus and cumulous in this shot.

(Did you like how I threw in 2 cloud names there? I'm practicing...)

These next two were from our Labor Day hike.

Cloud shadows on the wheat fields.

Fall is golden around here.

And...what was making those cloud shadows.

Yes, I had my husband pull over so I could take this picture.

Yes, he was rolling his eyes.

Ha! It's all good.

There have also been some stunning sunsets in the past few months.

I only managed to snap pictures of a few of them.

We even had some gorgeous sunsets on our trip to Utah.

I only got the one picture, but almost every night there was beauty.

Sunset behind the mountains--be still my heart.

This was another side of the road shot, though it was a city road not country in this case.

I got some weird looks and honks.

Hey, you do what you have to do when there's a pretty sky out there.

Fall colors...with clouds.

My daughter took this picture.

She told me the other day that she wants to start studying clouds and rain.

YES! Bringing the next generation on board...

Really, though--how cool is this cloud for her first picture?

Somewhat tornado shaped (no, it wasn't rotating), with a horizontal rainbow right through the middle of it.

Kudos, girl!

Maybe if she starts taking some cloud pictures, we'll get something other than cumulus and sunsets around here!

2 True History Tales: Duel with the Devil and Manhunt

I've read a couple of true history books lately. I especially enjoy narrative nonfiction for learning about history. I have a great memory for the stories--not so great for dates and names. My hope is that reading a whole book about some of these events will stamp the names into my memory, once and for all!

In any case, these were both very interesting and brought historical figures to life in memorable ways.

Duel with the Devil: The True Story of How Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr Teamed Up to Take on America's First Sensational Murder Mystery
By Paul Collins

3.5 stars: Life and politics in the early 1800's, plus a murder trial.


In 1799, Manhattan was a fledgling city with all kinds of problems. One of the biggest problems was the lack of sanitation and clean water. Yellow fever ravaged the populace nearly every summer, and clean water to drink was simply not available for most people. Yet that was just the status quo back then.The city started a big project to put in pipes that would siphon water from an uncontaminated well, known simply as "Manhattan's Well."  

Meanwhile, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, bitter political rivals, both lived in Manhattan for at least part of the year. They were both top lawyers and often faced each other from opposing sides of the bench in the courtroom. They both hoped to carry the voting in Manhattan for the upcoming presidential election. Burr was behind the clean water project, hoping it would help provide him some badly-needed revenue.

One cold winter night, Elma Sands, a Quaker woman living at her sister-in-law's boardinghouse, simply disappeared. Her body was found in the Manhattan Well several days later. It was obvious foul play had been involved. One of the other boarders was promptly accused and taken into custody--an up-and-coming young carpenter named Levi Weeks. The public outcry was swift and outraged. They wanted his blood and nothing less would do! Pamphlets proclaiming his guilt were widely distributed. His fate seemed to be sealed.

Meanwhile, Levi's older brother Ezra stepped in to help clear his name. Ezra Weeks was well-off, very well respected, and had connections with many of the leaders of the city. With his money and influence, he managed to hire both Hamilton and Burr to defend his brother.

The trial that followed had so much public interest behind it, that a complete copy of the courtroom transcript was published hours after it was over.

* * * * *

Collins really brought to life the climate and people of the times. America was still such a young country, and peaceful succession of the president was not at all a sure thing. Add to that the stressors of widespread illness and poverty, and you had disaster brewing. It's hard to believe that Burr and Hamilton agreed to be on the same side of this trial for any reason!

Content: Poor Elma's corpse was quite vividly described. For adults.

(Finished reading Sept. 29.)

Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, by James L. Swanson

3 stars: I actually preferred the middle grade version: Chasing Lincoln's Killer.


The story of Lincoln's assassination, and how John Wilkes Booth and co-conspirator David Herold escaped justice for 12 days on the run.

* * * * *

I picked this one up after reading Swanson's version of the same story written for middle grade audiences, Chasing Lincoln's Killer, with my 8-year-old son. I was ready for the full story, in detail. I did get a bit more detail, but not any more substance. There were side characters and stories that his other book didn't mention, but nothing so illuminating that I just had to tell my son what he missed. A woman in the alley here, a stable owner there. The ending was more fleshed out, including Booth's final hours, and what happened to all the co-conspirators (and their remains.)

Strangely enough, I thought his depiction of the Seward assassination attempt was more gory in the younger book. Not sure why he made that choice. Even so, my vote would be for the middle grade version. It's much shorter, and what you miss is not of great consequence.

Content: The assassination scenes were quite bloody and intense, as was to be expected. For adults.

(Finished reading October 5.)

* * * * *
Do you have any more true history suggestions for me? I'm ready for the next!

Series Spotlight: The Waterfire Saga, by Jennifer Donnelly

I've been holding off on this post, because I'm on a waiting list for the library to either buy or borrow #4, Sea Spell.  So far, neither has happened, and there are big projects going on at the library right now (parking lot reno followed by carpet replacement), so the upshot is--I'm giving you what I've got, and a review for #4 will have to come later. I could buy it on kindle for $9.99, but I don't want to buy just #4, plus I'm a cheapskate.


I picked up Deep Blue on a whim, when I saw it was a Young Reader's Choice Nominee for next year. It took me awhile to make the connection with the author--I didn't know Donnelly wrote mermaid books! The only other thing of hers I've read is A Northern Light, which was historical fiction. It's been so long, I'd have to re-read it before I could review it, but it won a Printz Honor Award in 2004. Anyway, I was a bit surprised, that's all.

I've read several mermaid books over the years and most were mediocre, at best, so my expectations weren't very high going in. These were a cut above the others I've read. The setting was fully realized--it was more than just "under the ocean." From all sorts of mermaid delicacies and foods mentioned (including candy,) to housing, to light sources, to slang; even clothing that seems as though it would actually work (not just seashell bras, thank you!)

That's just the beginning. There's actually history of how the Mer people came to be, political and cultural traditions, different Mer realms with their own intermingled histories, creatures both real and ghostly, and a unique magic system based on singing. You can tell Donnelly really put some time and thought into creating this world.

Granted, this is not high literature, and keep in mind that these were still written for a teen audience. Some of the dialogue made me roll my eyes a bit, and in some places it felt like Donnelly tried too hard to have a comparable teen culture under the sea. For the most part, though, I was impressed! If you like mermaid stories, or think you might like them, I would definitely give these a try.

Deep Blue (Waterfire Saga #1)

4 stars: I was impressed by the depth of world building, and kept reading for the action!


Serafina--a mermaid--is the daughter of the reigning regina of the Mer realm Miromara. She's had some very strange dreams lately. Dreams of the Iele, or river witches, and a terrible monster trying to break free from its cage. The witches were telling her that she must come to the River Olt with 5 others, to help battle the monster. The only thing is, Iele are make believe. At least, as far as Serafina knows.

Meanwhile, it's not like she has nothing else to do. As the crown passes from mother to daughter, that means she's next in line for the throne. Her Dokimi--a 2-part ceremony to determine her fitness for the throne--is coming tonight. She still has parts of the tricky songspell to practice, and her betrothed is coming for the Dokimi as well--she might get to see him. Although, from what she's heard over the past few years, she's not sure she even wants to anymore. It seems he has turned into a party boy since the last time they were together.

During the Dokimi everything goes according to plan, right up until an arrow comes out of no-where and hits her mother seated on the throne. Instantly the entire court is thrown into chaos. Before Serafina even really knows what's happening there are soldiers wearing black down every hallway, her father is killed right in front of her, and dragons begin smashing down the castle walls. She escapes from the castle with her best friend Neely. It turns out Neely has had the same terrifying dreams. After trying to go for help and getting captured, the two eventually head for the River Olt; in fact, they feel compelled to do so. What they find there will change both of their lives forever.

* * * * *
Serafina's a strong character who doesn't know her own strength yet. Perfect for a teen audience! As her whole world comes crashing down around her, she makes the best choices she can in difficult circumstances, and slowly comes to realize her potential to be a leader, like her mother was.

Content: Violence via Death Riders. Otherwise clean.

(Finished reading Aug. 31.)

Rogue Wave (Waterfire Saga #2)

3 stars: Choices, journeys, and battles--both inward and outward.


Serafina and 4 of the other 5 mermaids summoned to the River Olt are now bound by a blood oath to defeat the monster Abbadon. All 6 of them are direct descendants of the 6 powerful mages in Atlantis, who ruled the people anciently. The 6 teenage mermaids have the potential to become like their ancestors in strength and magical abilities. It's going to have to happen soon, though. Abbadon is going to break free from his cage and wreak havoc on the entire world, unless someone unlocks the gate and kills him. Or 6 someones, in this case.

In order to do so, there are 6 talismans that they must find, each a key to unlocking the prison where the monster lives. First though, they have to find out what the talismans are, where they were hidden, and then--you know--actually find them. All the oceans and waterways of the world are possible hiding places. Okay go! It pretty much feels impossible.

However, Serafina has at least a couple of starting places in mind: first, the sunken city of Atlantis itself. Perhaps there are clues amongst the ruins that will shed some light. Of course, Atlantis is now populated by cannibalistic sea creatures called Opifago. Better watch out for those. Another place to look is at home in the good old library--or Ostrokon--where there are conches filled with history. She remembers learning about her ancestor-mage, Merrow, who made a trip around the world. What if she was hiding talismans while she was at it?

They must figure this out! Everything depends on it. Meanwhile, back at home, there's a resistance movement growing called the Black Fins. Serafina really wants to stay and help fight the usurpers who have taken over her mother's throne, and protect her people--what's left of them--as well. So many choices, so little time.

* * * * * *
This time the narrative is split between Serafina's journey and Neely's. I know, my summary hardly mentioned Neely. Here you go: Neely goes home and gets locked in her room, because her parents think she is mentally unstable after hearing her story and seeing how she's changed. Finally she escapes and goes to look for her talisman. Better?

Anyway, good for a second novel. Faint praise, I realize. I think writing a second novel as strong as the first must be one of the hardest things to accomplish in fiction writing. In a fantasy world, especially, the newness of the setting has worn off by book 2, so any filler plot-wise shows up more starkly.

Thankfully, it's not all wandering and endless searching for mysterious talismans. Enough subplots continue to develop to keep the story moving forward. A few twists thrown in to keep things interesting, as well. I appreciated the way Serafina kept learning and gaining confidence her ability to make decisions and lead others, "playing the board and not just the piece," as her mother taught her.

Content: Some violence, but the romance stays sweet.

(Finished reading Sept. 5)

Dark Tide (Waterfire Saga #3)

4 stars: Building up to a big finish (I hope!)

Serafina has found her talisman (sorry if that was a spoiler), so now she's free to lead the Black Fin Resistance against those in the palace--who shall not be named for spoilerish reasons. The BFR needs gold--lots of it--in order to survive, and also to buy some allies up north and raise an army. The BFR has discovered a way into the palace treasury...if they can pull it off. Big plans.

Meanwhile, the search goes on for the other talismans. Astrid returns home to find her father on the brink of death, an arranged marriage in the works for her, and political intrigue as thick as thieves in the palace. Ling's been captured by their common enemy and is on her way to a work camp at the edge of the Great Abyss. Becca is also on the run, but manages to hook up with Astrid for a time--long enough to learn Astrid's shameful secret. Ava also heads back home, only to find an unpleasant surprise waiting for her there, as well.

* * * * *
This was a stronger addition to the series than book 2. After 2 books mostly focusing on Serafina and a little on Neely, we finally got a little more backstory on the other 4 mermaids that haven't played as big a part yet: Astrid, Becca, Ling, and Ava. We also got a closer look at the villains; their methods and motivations. Some other reviewers thought the switching POV's made it too choppy, but I liked the way it kept the plot progressing, and didn't have any trouble following.

Serafina continued to show growth as a character (also hard to sustain in a series). For the others in the bloodbind, they at least made some progress toward getting answers, whether or not they liked those answers. At the same time, a few more romantic entanglements started simmering in this one. It will be interesting to see where they all end up in the last book.

Content: Some creepy parts with a couple of the villains, again some violence, clean romance. Still teen appropriate.

(Finished reading Sept. 6)


* * * * * * *

Once I get my hands on Sea Spell, I will let you know how it caps it all off!

Applesauce!

Friends, we made (and canned) some applesauce!

Contrary to what this picture would have you believe, it was not a solo effort.

Every blessed one of us spent a good part of the day working on it.

Washing apples (reserved for the 4-year-old)

Cutting apples (Mom and kids)

Cooking apples (Mom and Dad's job)

Putting apples through the food mill attachment on the KitchenAid (mostly older 2 kids)

Re-heating and seasoning applesauce (Dad's specialty)

Filling jars and running hot water bath canner (Mom's specialty)

Phew!

I always have to kind of gear up mentally for applesauce day.

Every big bowl in the house, every cutting board, every large pot & saucepan, every kitchen surface: utilized and requires cleaning up later.

Don't get me wrong--there's a lot to compensate for the colossal mess.

For one, your whole house smells like apple cinnamon deliciousness.

All day long.

Fresh applesauce for lunch is hard to beat!

[Whoa weird, didn't plan on everything matching for the photo!]

Also, seeing as how it's an "all hands on deck" sort of experience, you get some quality family time together--with built-in snacks!

I am so glad my husband and kids are the sort to pitch in when its applesauce time!

The reward:

21 quarts

In case you're wondering why they're outside:

for big jobs like this, I usually set up the hot water bath canner on our camp stove that lives out on the deck. Then I set up the card table to put them out on once they're done.

We still have around 15 from last year, so here's hoping this lasts through until next fall!

p.s. I was a canning maniac last year!

We still have at least 12 cans each of peaches, pears, and cherries left, too!

...which is good, because all I've done this year is jam and applesauce.

Guess I've got more priorities straight, anyway. Ha!

October Bloom Day

Hello friends!

Welcome once again to my Eastern Washington state (USA) garden.

Well, we finally had a hard frost this past week, so a good number of the blooms that were left are now residing in a jar on my counter.

Since then it has been raining almost every day.

Par for the course around here--fall and spring are just rainy, rainy, rainy.

I'm ready for some sunshine!

I love how the foliage really comes forward in the fall. The various shades of green, orange, red, and even the brown of dying plants, create such a beautiful tapestry of color.

Out front:

If you look closely, I've got a couple of roses blooming, and a section of mums there on the right.

The dark green in front are English laurel bushes--I love the contrast they provide with the lighter shades of the bearded iris and bellflower foliage surrounding them.

Front, far corner:

On this side, I do have a few guillardias blooming, and the catmint is still going strong despite the frost. The brilliant red on the bottom left is my neighbor's strawberry patch.

Back flowerbed:

Ninebark changing to golden yellow, and the sedum along the back have changed from light pink to this dusty coral color.

Still a bloom here and there from my 'Abraham Darby' rose, with more sedum in back and peony foliage in front.

The vegetable garden:

As I mentioned, most of the white cosmos you see here, and the orange snapdragons there in the front on the bottom have all been cut for my frost bouquet.

I'm starting to get the rest cleared out, but compost bins and trash can were full, so I've got to wait until next week after trash is taken.

(Note to self: Must find bigger space for compost!)

Now for a closeup of the top left corner of the garden:

Love seeing all those colors in one area!

What else is on the slope?

Hmmm... there are ALWAYS aspens.

Weedy aspens on the slope--hey, at they turn least pretty colors in the fall!

Finally, the shade bed and back apple tree are putting on a show this year, as well!

Red-twig dogwood there in front.

I love this time of year!

I hope the rain doesn't make all the leaves fall too fast!

I want to just savor it all as long as I can.

Head over to May Dreams Gardens for a glimpse of other gardens around the world!

Time for Pumpkins! 13 Picture Books to Celebrate Fall

Are your kids excited that it's October? We haven't started talking costumes yet, but I'm sure that conversation is coming soon. I do not make my kids' costumes. We rummage around in the costume bin downstairs until they come up with something that they like, and go with it. Occasionally I may make or purchase a needed accessory. (I'm pretty good at headbands and spots. The rest? Eh...not so much.)

I am always amazed when I read the sewing blogs and see the fantastic homemade costumes put together. That... is not me. However, coming up with some great seasonally appropriate books to read? I'm on it! Count me in! Good thing there are all sorts of talents in this world. :)

As I was reading stacks of pumpkin books, I realized something.

There are 2 sub-genres in the pumpkin picture book world:
1. Life cycle of the pumpkin--endlessly fascinating, apparently, because SO many books do this!
2. Pumpkins growing out of control. Not sure why on this one, but there are several with this theme.

Whichever is your favorite, I hope you and your kiddos enjoy these (gasp--unlucky!) 13 picture books!

Apples and Pumpkins, by Anne Rockwell
Illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell

A little girl goes with her family to Mr. Comstock's orchard and pumpkin patch, where they pick apples and find the best pumpkin of them all.

* * * * *


A good one for younger children or beginning readers. Short, simple sentences described the family outing. Many 2-page spreads were just 1 sentence on the first page, then a full illustration on the second page. A good introduction to the season for the littles!

How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow? by Wendell Minor

What would happen if you grew some giant pumpkin seeds? Would your pumpkin block traffic on the interstate? Would it be too big to hide behind the capital dome?

* * * * *
A tour of the United States, with all differently-carved giant pumpkins for tour guides. This would be another good choice for younger kiddos, as the text was very short--1-2 sentences per page--and every page had a pumpkin peeking out in silly places to keep things lively.

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas

Mr. Tiffin's class has another challenge. This time they are trying to figure out how many seeds are inside each of 3 pumpkins: small, medium, and large. They also have to decide how to count the seeds. One group decides to count by 2's, one group counts by 5's, and Charlie counts by 10's. Charlie is the smallest boy in the class and he gets to count the smallest pumpkin's seeds all by himself. At the end of all the counting, there's a surprise for Charlie!


* * * * * *
I learned something about pumpkins from this book! I never realized that they form seeds along the lines on the outside--hence a smaller pumpkin with more lines will have more seeds. Of course we had to count the seeds with each group. Nice way to sneak a little math in there!

Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden, by George Levenson
Photography by: Shmuel Thaler

"The pumpkin seed makes the pumpkin plant, and the pumpkin plant makes pumpkins."

* * * * *

Bright full-color photographs, including some neat close-up shots, complemented the rhyming text; all about the pumpkin life cycle from seeds to plants to pumpkins.

Pumpkin Hill, by Elizabeth Spurr
Illustrated by Whitney Martin

There once was a pumpkin,
a lonely only pumpkin
that grew on the brink of a great green hill...

Who would have guessed this one pumpkin could be the beginnings of an orange avalanche of pumpkins?

* * * * *
Rich text, including phrases like "whirly, swirly" and "unruly roly-polies." The mayor's speech adds some great vocabulary words (all starting with the letter 'p')--spelled out by syllable in the text, such as: "pre-pos-ter-ous," and "pleth-o-ra."

Illustrations done in acrylics, with whimsical insects and animals adding to the fun.

The last page had instructions for growing a giant pumpkin, and a recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds.

Pumpkin Jack, by Will Hubbell

The story of Tim's carved pumpkin, named Jack. After Halloween, he throws him out into the garden. Jack starts to look different. He gets moldy and flattens out. By spring not much is left, so Tim throws some dirt over Jack. Then a new sprout appears! The cycle begins again.



* * * * *
There seems to be a whole sub-genre for the pumpkin life cycle! This one stood out for its realistic-looking illustrations. I also really liked the descriptive writing. Little phrases, like when Tim carried Jack to the garden, "which was filled with the brown ghosts of last summer's plants," and the next fall after a frost: "The frozen plants seemed changed to pale blue glass."

Pumpkin Pumpkin, by Jeanne Titherington

Jamie plants a pumpkin seed and watches it grow until it is time to make it into a jack-o-lantern!


* * * * *
Yes, another pumpkin life cycle book! The simplicity and short text of this one make it just perfect for younger kids. I loved the illustrations, each showing Jamie in the pumpkin patch, always with a little animal of some kind. This was one of my go-to books for fall storytimes, back in the day, and I just used it for Joy School (home preschool) last week.

Pumpkin Soup, by Helen Cooper

Duck, Squirrel, and Cat live together in the woods, in a little white (gourd-shaped) house. They make music together and every night they eat pumpkin soup. Cat cuts up the pumpkin, squirrel stirs in the water and Duck adds just enough salt. Everything is great. Until one day, Duck decides to stir. Boy does he ever! He stirs up a big fight among the three friends, which ends with him leaving in a huff. Will these 3 friends ever settle their differences?



* * * * *
This was such a great little story--one that anyone with siblings (or children) would be able to relate to. All was well, until one person decided to rock the boat. Then---watch out! The illustrations were enjoyable, as well. I don't know that I've ever had pumpkin soup, but this book made it sound delicious--and that little white house looked so cozy!

Pumpkin Town, by Katie Mcky
Illustrated by Pablo Bernasconi

Jose and his family grow pumpkins. One fall day they throw out the extra seeds at the edge of the field. The wind picks up those seeds and sprinkles them down over the town below. That seems to be the end of it. Until next spring, when those vines (and pumpkins) start to grow and grow and grow!
When the brothers realize what's going on, they decide they'll have to do something about it!

* * * * *
I especially liked how the brothers decided to help out the townspeople--they took responsibility, even though they could easily have looked the other way. They were humble, too! When their Pa asked them what they had been up to, they simply replied, "We just helped the townspeople with their harvest."

The ending made it easy to continue telling the story. In fact, when my oldest read it, he actually went back through later and wrote the sequel, putting in watermelons for pumpkins.

The illustrations were interesting, too. They looked like a mix of photographs (all the hair), painting, and possibly cut paper.

Pumpkins, by Ken Robbins

Beautiful full-page photographs and simple text illustrate the pumpkin's life cycle.

* * * * *
Another one of these pumpkin life cycle books!

I loved that photo on the cover; I would frame it and hang it in my house. The other photos showed the farmer (a woman this time-yay!) planting her pumpkin seeds, then the closeup shots as the plants grew and produced the pumpkins. Like many of the others, it ended with carving Jack-o-lanterns on Halloween.

Ready for Pumpkins, by Kate Duke

Hercules ("Just call me Herky!") is the pet guinea pig in Miss MacGuffey's 1st-grade classroom. He has a good life. One day, during a classroom Jack-o-lantern project, some pumpkin seeds stick to his fur. He carefully saves them. Later on, when Miss MacGuffey takes him to spend the summer on her dad's farm, he plants the seeds. A rabbit named Daisy helps him. Together they wait for those seeds to grow and nurture the little seedlings. Poor Herky has to return to the classroom before picking any pumpkins. That's not quite the end of the story, though! There's a surprise delivery in October.

* * * * * *
Herky told his story in first person. The illustrations were a combination of regular picture book and comic-book style, with speech bubbles for the characters.

Here's my favorite quote: "A garden is not a place to be angry in." That's right.

The Runaway Pumpkin, by Kevin Lewis
Illustrated by S. D. Schindler

When Buck, Billy, and little Lil Baxter head up the hill, what do they find? An enormous pumpkin! The brothers cut it loose and it goes bounding down the hill to the Baxter farm, smashing through gates and stys, until Papa Baxter uses his head and plows a pumpkin bed.

Then of course, it's time for Granny to get busy making all sorts of delicious pumpkin food!

* * * * * *
This rollicking book was just plain fun to read. Every other page or so there's a catchy refrain about the "thumpin', bumpin', round and roly, runaway pumpkin!" Schindler's illustrations added humorous details to the already lively story. Grandpa's costume on the last page is my absolute favorite!

Too Many Pumpkins, by Linda White
Illustrated by Megan Lloyd

Rebecca Estelle has hated pumpkins, ever since she was a girl, and poverty-stricken family had only pumpkin to eat for an entire month. One fall day, an enormous pumpkin falls off the pumpkin truck and smashes all over her yard. She refuses to touch it or even look at it, and immediately buries it.

The next spring pumpkin vines sprout up, and despite Rebecca Estelle's best efforts those pumpkins keep coming back. Finally she decides to just ignore them completely, certain that they will wither away and die from neglect. However, when she goes out to rake leaves one fall day, she finds her entire front yard covered in pumpkins! Oh dear. Now what is she going to do?

* * * * * *
I'm sensing another theme here! Apparently, it is very easy to grow a whole lotta pumpkins!

Engaging illustrations and a straightforward story. My kids knew right away that just ignoring those pumpkins was going to be trouble, so that made them even more interested in the outcome. A warm ending made it all worth it.

* * * * * * * *

What are some of your favorite pumpkin books? Any must-reads for me?

Frost Bouquet & Late Fall Chores

 The light frost 2 nights ago was just a warning.

Forecast predicted a hard frost for last night.

It was time to bring in the last of the flowers and veggies.

Making a frost bouquet is easy--you just cut everything you possibly can!

I did not get to all of the cosmos, and I left some things that are a little tougher than most--the salvia and catmint, among others.

The other thing to bring in were the last of the tomatoes and squash.

I was surprised how many little squashes there were.

I've still got one small patch of carrots out there to harvest, but that's about it.

Sure enough, we had a hard frost last night.

The garden's looking pretty withered and sad this morning.

It will be time to start clearing out the vines and plants that are left, now.

As much as I love the vegetable garden, it's always satisfying to me to get it cleared off and "put to bed" come late fall. 

Other late fall chores to do:

** Empty flowerpots and put away in the shed.

Although it's the more expensive route, I always dump all the dirt from the flowerpots into the garden and start fresh the next year. I don't usually add fertilizer to my flowerpots over the summer, so the few times I've re-used the dirt, my plants did not thrive; the soil was too depleted. 

** Put deck chair cushions away in the shed, as well.

My kids have a clubhouse in the top of our shed--they will be delighted to have some nice soft cushions to sit on up there! The trick is catching a long enough break in the weather so that they're all dried out before I put them up there.

** Empty hoses as much as possible and put them away in the shed.

** Blow out sprinkler lines and turn it off (we get someone to come do this for us.)

** Weeding or last transplanting.

Ready, set, go!