7/31/23 Half the interest of a garden is the constant exercise of the imagination. ~Mrs. C.W. Earle

Clouds, calm. 55 degrees.  Likely thunderstorms this afternoon with a high of 72, a brisk west breeze.  Clear skies tonight with a light WNW breeze,a low of 54. Partly cloudy tomorrow with a NW breeze, a high of 73, a low of 51.  Sunshine Wednesday with a NW breeze, a high of 76, a low of 53.  Partly cloudy Thursday with a stiff SW breeze, a high of 79, a low of 62.  Scattered thunderstorms Friday and Saturday.  A strong south breeze Friday with a high of 71, a low of 61.  A SW breeze Saturday with a high of 76, a low of 60.  Maybe morning showers Sunday with a WNW breeze, a high of 78, a low of 60.  Possible showers next Monday with a WSW breeze, a high of 79, a low of 62.  Partly cloudy next Tuesday and Wednesday with westerly breezes, highs of 78, lows about 61.  Perhaps some showers Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th with SW breezes, highs about 80,  lows about 62.  SSW breezes on the weekend and Monday the 14th with highs in the low eighties, lows of 63.  Perhaps a morning shower Sunday, Scattered thunderstorms Monday.

   I'm always imagining how lovely my garden will look without any weeds, just blooms and butterflies.

   There is some blue sky with rays of sunshine this morning but I'm rather sad.  In my mind this week is the week that reminds me how fast summer is passing by.  Mike bought a large load of firewood yesterday afternoon.  Jay happened to show up to help him finish unloading it.  When Kaden got here he stacked it all.  The beginning of getting ready for winter.  I don't have to plow snow, shovel, clean snow off the roof or along the greenhouse but I prefer summer.   It is time to defrost the freezer and clean the pantry.  I've been putting blueberries in the freezer but this week putting food by for winter starts in earnest.  Starting with pickles.  Tomorrow afternoon Andrew is going to clean the chimney.  I've had a low fire in the cook range for a couple of months.  Now I will sometimes need a hotter fire. But I don't want the hotter fire to start a chimney fire!

    Jay had to pick more beet greens yesterday afternoon.  With cooler temperatures people must be cooking more. He tries to just pick what will sell so they are always fresh.  He is picking lots of cucumbers and zucchini and they are selling  out.  He doesn't have enough cucumbers for pickling sales yet. They have seen a large increase in customers this year.   Gilbert is going to give me some of his cucumbers.   Yesterday he gave me a crate to take to church .  Our church has a lot of older people who no longer have gardens.  My little raised bed garden just gives us enough for the table.

    I stopped at an estate sale yesterday.  Lots of old tools and other antiques.  I was looking for dishes and kitchenware.  Maegin is moving back at the end of August.  In New Mexico she has been using  some of her mother's extras.  The lady commented that a lot of people didn't know what some of the old tools were used for.

    May God bless you on this day, Sally