just when i thought the tomatoes were goners, and had started searching for alternative supplies, the weather turned and the garden started getting REALLY happy. i’m picking a basket full of tomatoes every other day this week, and new eggplants are hanging all over the place (the plants still look like they’ve been through armaggedon, but so what?).
yup, fall has settled in with brilliant days and cool nights, and we’ve even had rain several times. it’s actually the rain i think . . . it’s making all of us feel a little less crisp around the edges.
we’ve been eating generously from what we’re picking right now—over the weekend i made a curry with tomatoes, greens, eggplant, and peppers. then we had fish another night with a pile of swiss chard sautéed in oil and garlic, yum. it’s an heirloom variety that’s a mild, buttery, pale green chard originating in provénce which is named erbette).
i’m pretty chuffed about the spinach—even though the lovely green, healthy growth has little to do with me, this is the first real spinach bounty i’ve been able to produce over the last two years. another week or two and we’re going to eat it.
and this lettuce . . . time to thin it a bit (or more) for sure. we should plan a baby lettuce salad for thursday or friday i think. i would do it today but i am long overdue to go clothes shopping and i’m feeling it today—best to take advantage, before i get into a funk and skip it.
and finally, we have lots of peppers—nice straight ones too, perfect for stuffing. i’ve got about 12 or 18 of these out there and getting those prepared and into the freezer would be a good weekend project.
these orange peppers are new to me but wow—are they ever good. they are relatively small but oh, so sweet. i can collect them in handfuls and cut them up to add to dishes for a real pop of flavor. i’m not sure what the variety is because i got them from my friend kris, but sure hope she grows them again next year.
that photo makes a good segue into the knitting projects i think
i worked on jester in classes on monday and it’s half finished now. it’s really scrumptious—we all agree that the color is dyn-o-mite. the thing about it is that it heralds in fall, but is as cheery as the summer so recently left behind . . . so, while it looks like we will be needing scarves fairly soon (it gets chilly in the evening), we can hang on to a little bit of the sun and fun.
of course i’ve been devoting as much time as possible to the stole project too (just not in class, really), and it’s rewarding me by growing at a very respectable rate.
don’t get me wrong—there’s still a long way to go but i have a little over one-fifth of it behind me and that feels pretty good.. boy, i just lo-o-oove the way the color streaks are behaving with the stitch pattern. it looks like a perfect slalom pattern down a purple and brown mountain. i bet it would look awesome in a mix of creams and whites.
even though i’m making sure to knit at least X amount on the stole before picking up other distracting projects, i have not had to be monogamous. i’ve got the sock ’round the heel
(not that you can tell from this photo), and am heading down the foot. poor sock—it’s really not going to look like its best self until i get it on someone. also, i now realize it would have been better to use a 1 x 1 rib at the top cuff i think. i’ll change that on the second one; it will look cleaner. but what a pretty pattern—i love the way the lace “stairsteps” up the leg. and with the color . . . i’m thinking it should be named stepping on clouds or something similar.
in a fit of “i need something different right this minute” i also finally cast on for the butternut scarf in abby’s yarn
i’m not going to race through this one, at least, not yet. it’s my relaxation project for now (that could change at any given time). the in-between needle size is working perfectly for me. it could be knit on the larger needle but i feel more secure with this one.
ok, so yeah, i think i’m going to shower up and head out to the stores for a while. i need so many things that one trip will probably not do it (seriously, i even need a suitcase—mine bit the dust for the last time on our trip to albany, sigh.), but if i can score some slacks and shirts today, i’ll be very happy.
26 thoughts on “never give up”
I love you gardening pics. Especially the tomatoes. Droooool.
Shopping… I need to do that too, clothes shopping. I wish someone else would drag me out shopping, ’cause I’m never going to get up the motivation to do it myself. Good luck!
MMM I like the looks of the butternut, it’s looking a little butterfly, too, right now. Definitely looks wispy enough for New Orleans weather! I am finishing a gust scarf, right now, in a dark tealy lace weight. Next is Elm Row, I think in a pale spring green.
Garden and knitting are both looking fruitful in the fall (aka hurricane season in Louisiana). Congratulations, you busy bee!
Gee, it’s a good thing that it’s almost early dinner time ’cause you surely are making me hungry! Right here in my corner of SW PA we’ve gotten only a tenth of an inch of rain in the last 3 weeks, but even that really helped.
Mmm…your produce looks marvelous. Yum. And the lace looks wonderful, too!! I’m knitting whenever I can to catch up, but I’ve got a ways to go. The sock is gorgeous; that may be the pattern I’ve been looking for to knit for my friend for her 3-day walk — don’t you think that would look nice in some of Lime and Violet’s intentions yarn? I love lining up projects 🙂
P.S. Good luck shopping! (shudder…)
I have 3 words for you for the sock: Stairway to Heaven.
I’m a sucker for blues. Zeppelin too, if it came to that… you know…..
You are just so dang productive!
Are those veggies real?!! Gorgeous! It’s supposed to frost tonight, here!
Oh Anne! Such deliciousness from beginning to end!
We’ve been enjoying tomatoes from our garden for the last couple of weeks now! Finally! They were worth the wait!!! Yum. One of them was 17oz!
I’m so very happy for you that your garden has rejuvinated itself. Looks very lush as your scarf and swatches….WTG 🙂
we finally got some much needed rain too, and things are less crispy! Perfect description! My tomatoes are still going full throttle.
I haven’t dared to actually try to take stock of the tomato situation what with our lack of recent rain. My lone cotton plant isn’t dead yet, however. But I just can’t look at the tomatoes.
I’m jealous of your spinach! I still haven’t found a way to get spinach to thrive in my garden.
I love seeing all of the progress! Everything looks great, and the new scarf, I like it on that needle size. It will be just right when you block it I think.
So many new projects & they all looked so great! I love Jesters too. I have just finished Rivolo & it’s blocking now. Enjoyed knitting it so much – a great pattern.
Wow, your garden seems to be doing quite well indeed!
The new sock is really pretty, and the scarf in Abby’s yarn looks like it will be gorgeous!
Your veggies look so awesome! I really should do more in the yard… As it stands, I’m pleased with myself if I manage to weed every 2 months, it seems. 😀
And I love the stole so far. The yarn is to die (dye?) for. 😉
Your veggies look so delicious—reminds me, I must check our garden; there are still a few tomatoes left—and I also love seeing all the works in progress! More temptation, and it’s not as if there aren’t a few things on the needles already!
Good luck with the shopping! I find it easier to go shopping for my kids than for myself these days….
Jester would be a good name for that one little eggplant. It looks absolutely joyful! We dodged teh freeze, but the garden is picked.
Your garden just keeps getting better and better. And where do you find all your time?
SO in love with how that stole is coming out!!! Can’t wait!
Oh my! It’s all so gorgeous. The colors are spectacular!
Wow, have you ever been busy! 🙂 This new stole looks extremely promising, as does the butternut scarf. And I’m not just saying that because I love the color… 😉
I love your blog, it is wonderful, I check it almost daily. So much inspiration every day. Thank you!!!
Your garden is incredibly fruitful right now…lucky you! That is awesome!
I love all of the projects you are working on…such a variety of scrumptious colors!
I am in love with the yarn that you describe as a brown and purple mountain. Did you dye that yourself or is it something one could purchase? The pattern is as awesome as the rest of your designs, I love them all!! Laura
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