Whatcha Up To???

[ErnieCopp]

Picked some more figs to dry, but first crop is running out with lots of small green ones coming along for a second crop. Much slower to pick with the bird netting over the one tree, but easier now that i finally figured out to remove my wrist watch. So i do not snag on that anymore.

Ernie

 

[w_r_ranch]

Finalized the fall garden plan & made 4 dozen oatmeal/raisin cookies for the lady of the house.

 

[w_r_ranch]

Continued working on the asparagus bed base... about 12' more to go.

 

[Mr_Yan]

Harvested cucumbers and a summer squash.

Started trimming tomatoes for the end of the year - trim the shoots and new flowers in hopes of putting energy to the fruit

Pulled the last of the broccoli plants as they're done

Mowed the lawn. Almost should be collected as straw. It got WAY too long. Mrs. Yan won't let me get sheep to control the lawn - something about city ordinances, time required, and space. My argument is then I could also get sheep dogs which would help herd kids too.

 

[w_r_ranch]

Mowed the grass & watered all the trees & flowerbeds.

 

[Mike]

Pulled up a few more carrots to use for our salads this evening. Tasted great! Also got about 8-9 peppers off the pepper plant. That thing is producing peppers like there is no tomorrow.

 

[Mr_Yan]

Sifted worm compost and got kid #2 (two years old) rather muddy before sending him in to show his mommy.

Harvested what may be the last of my summer squash.

About to make soil cubes to start spinach and lettuce.

 

[w_r_ranch]

Picked up another load of concrete (to finish off the asparagus bed base) & some masonry adhesive to start setting the perimeter wall in place.

 

[ErnieCopp]

I went out to get Linda some onions and found a few wet ones in the bottom of the crate. Bad Boy Here, and i should have checked those a couple of times.

I am sundrying the damp ones but i only have a few, and it looks like i gave too many away.

I peeled of the damp skins on the one damp one i brought in, and the rest of the onion seems to be okay, but I will not let that happen next year, for sure.

Ernie

 

[Mike]

Expected rain again this afternoon. Mowed the lawn and checked on the garden. Spinach is already starting to pop up about 1-2" tall.

 

[w_r_ranch]

Finished the asparagus bed base. Started 'mortaring' the perimeter wall in place... Then it rained just enough to stop work.

 

[Mr_Yan]

It is getting late here to put seeds in the ground but I did just that where the pumpkins came out of the ground.

Today we mowed down the grasses that sprang up under the pumpkins then rototilled that area and put down five rows about 35' long each. We seeded:

Turnips
Radishes
Spinach
Lettuce
Kohl Rabi

I also spread white clover seeds over the whole area thinking it can work as a ground cover.

 

[w_r_ranch]

Started 'mortaring' the courses on the asparagus bed base this morning... got 2 on.

 

[Mike]

@w_r_ranch is this going to be your first asparagus bed?

 

[w_r_ranch]

Yep. I have always wanted a dedicated bed & I'm finally getting around to it (the bed itself is 25'X4' & the overall area that will be rocked is 50'X14'). Both Mrs. Ranch & I love asparagus, but we will not pay $6 for a small bunch of them in the grocery stores.

Today I sprayed Round Up in the area where it is going for the very last time (yeah!!!!). I then installed the H.D. weed cloth & secured it with 500 'ground staples'. Hopefully I'll have the 3/4" aggregate delivered by the weekend & the rest of the PL500 adhesive mortar will be here next Tuesday so I can finish adding the courses.

I'm trying to keep rolling on this project & get it done.

 

[Mr_Yan]

Yep. I have always wanted a dedicated bed & I'm finally getting around to it (the bed itself is 25'X4' & the overall area that will be rocked is 50'X14'). Both Mrs. Ranch & I love asparagus...

I'm envious. We also asparagus and I am sure Mrs. Yan will approve of a similar bed when we have the space.

I think I missed something what is the black monolith at the end of the bed? For some reason I now want to listen to Also Sprach Zarathustra by Strauss

 

[whistech]

Mr. Ranch, what a beautiful asparagus bed!

 

[w_r_ranch]

I think I missed something what is the black monolith at the end of the bed?

That there is a 'Texas Burn Barrel' aka an outdoor incinerator.

 

[Mr_Yan]

Forecast was calling for strong storms last night and most of today but they didn't really happen. We may have gotten about half an inch of rain in the last 24 hours.

Blowing strong, "cold", and gloomy out right now. It's just after sunset and the thermometer reads 60 F. At least with the wind my dog walk won't also be a mosquito feeding.

Harvested a kilogram of greens and beets. The greens were braised and put with dinner and the beets are roasting now. The beets will go with feta and white wine vinegar as a side for tomorrow's dinner.

 

[w_r_ranch]

Today I moved some rock from the base of the columns of the 'party barn' & spread it in the asparagus bed area. I will be setting 'tree rings' in these spots in the very near future to facilitate 8 more shrubs that will be planted (probably Crape Myrtles)...

 

[Mike]

Received about 3 inches of rain yesterday so no need for me to water. I do plan on cooking some chili over the fire pit this weekend so need to get the cast iron pot, wood, and tri-pod ready today.

 

[w_r_ranch]

I did my 'chores' & then got 1 tree ring set in place before it rained 2.75"... I'm not complaining about the rain at all, I hope it rains even more!!! Needless to say there was not a rock delivery today, probably next week.

 

[whistech]

Mr. Ranch, send some that rain this way. We need it bad. Glad you had some good rain.

 

[Mr_Yan]

Sorry guys will sound like I'm bragging to some extent.

Another day of rain. Cooled off greatly too, the high today only flirted with 60 F. I did nothing in my garden.

We had to turn the heat on in the house. Temperature at the thermostat was reading 63 F.

 

[w_r_ranch]

Got another 1.35" of rain overnight when the cold front passed though (bringing our 24 hr total to 4.10")!!! Guess I won't be doing much outside today but we really needed this rain.

Ordered 2 lbs of the 'Lorz' garlic this morning.