Because books have always been special to me...

We escaped Irene - we were far enough inland that all we had were cool temperatures and rustling treetops.
Many of my family were in it's path - and got a little damp, but had little to no damage (unless you count my Uncle's farm, but he is saving what he can...)

Others have suffered terribly - and I am passing along the story of one library that was hard hit - and how we can help.

Because it was finally time to try....

This is what I started with - books to review skills learned 30 odd years ago... some sumptious yarn, and a new pair of larger sized needles.

After a few swatches, and a 5 stitch wide scarf knit for the Munchkin's stuffed monkey (with his help), I was able to concentrate a bit on MY project and this is how far I have gotten...

I was not happy with the swatches with the needles I bought - so I went smaller - using a pair of circular needles that Mom gave me back in October from her knitting box.  This is a very wide project, so that actually works better.  

Now to figure out why my stitch count has grown from 77 to 83?!?!?  I think I know... but this yarn and project is very forgiving, so I think I am ok - as long as it does not grow higher!!!

 

No Vampires

I had a few guesses on my Name That Vegetable post the other day - most of the scallion and leek variety - but no one had it right.

Perhaps this picture will help?

 

These are garlic scapes - the flower head of a garlic plant that pops up on the top of the plant and forms a cool curli-que in the late spring.  You cut them off so that the plant puts its energy into forming bigger heads of garlic, instead of this seed head, and they are great for cooking.  They have a milder garlic taste than the other end of the plant - and we have had them in stir frys in past years.


This year's recipe of note was Garlic Scape Pesto - totally awesome on pizza and pasta, and very freezable!

I planted A LOT of garlic - so we now have A LOT of pesto on the freezer!!!  Yum!

Dirty Tales - surviving the drought

So it has not rained much here of late.  I mowed on July 31st -the first time the lawn has NEEDED mowing since July 3rd - and even then it probably could have gone a bit longer.

(of course it rained yesterday - but that is just because we are having our roof replaced and Mother Nature had to weigh in on our carefully scheduled construction plans.)

Add to that being gone for 10 days in the middle of it - and you have the makings for a baked and crispy garden.

Not here, though.  Thanks to the efforts of my neighbor, and my handy dandy self watering planter buckets, things are humming along nicely.

Romas ready to harvest.

3 buckets of Romas and 2 of carrots - the carrots are surprisingly the 'thirsty plant' that I have to refill every night.

Monster pumpkin climbing up the deck.

Monster pumpkin sprawling over the yard.  (has not set fruit yet, though)

Planter boxes with garlic ready to harvest, happy rhubarb, a roving pumpkin, and beans, peppers, tomatoes and squash all growing nicely.  Some harvested already, some ripening on the vine, some stolen by Chucky, Lefty and Bambi.

Dirty Tales -name that vegetable

Can you identify this vegetable???  Submit your guesses in comments -answer to follow in a few days.