Closing Time

This was a catch-up, clean-out, clean-up, fix-up, and shut-down kind of weekend.

Tom did the fixing up: unclogging sink drains, setting up the new dehumidifier, and attempting to fix the back screen door.

The kids and I cleaned up: the bathrooms, the kitchen, changing sheets, the cat box, and more.

The garden moved a bit closer to being shut down. I removed the last tomato plant and weeded extensively around the spreading strawberry plants. I harvested more green beans, some marjoram and parsley to dry, and some carrots, including two ginormous Scarlet Nantes. Haven’t tasted them yet, not sure if they will be sweet at all (these oversummered carrots have been hit or miss).

In the bed near the shed, I added compost and then planted 11 cloves of garlic, a mix of Music (hardneck) and an unknown variety from the Haddon Heights farmers’ market that was already sprouting. (The vendor struck me as a family member manning the booth, not the actual farmer.) I failed to order enough of the Music; I spent $10 and received one small head. Need to save cloves for planting next year!

I also transplanted the last of the creeping thyme (which I started from seed back in the spring) into two spots in the yard and driveway. Out front, I took some of the dried seed heads of the Love in a Mist and scattered seeds all over. And I potted a random marigold that sprouted in the yard. I’ll see how long I can keep it alive inside.

Finally, I raked some leaves in preparation for shredding them with the lawn mower so I can use them to cover the beds.  The weather was nice, especially today, and I tried to be outside as much as possible.

At the Collingswood farmers’ market, F and I bought broccoli, dog treats, catnip spray, earrings for each of us, a muffin, Golden Delicious apples, cheddar cheese, yogurt, cheese crackers and two bags of pierogis. Lunch was my favorite grilled cheese on sourdough.

I promptly blanched and froze the broccoli since I have a tendency to forget about it after I put it in the crisper.

At the HH farmers’ market, in addition to the garlic, I bought an onion and also chicken, “jowl” bacon and eggs, from a new-to-me farm.

OK — Why aren’t all egg cartons a sturdy 3×4 instead of a floppy 2×6?

I’m skipping “what we ate last week.” It wasn’t pretty. Let’s just… move forward.

Tonight we had a nice dinner at my parents, minus T, who is en route home after his own trip to Arizona. My Instagram has pivoted right to Christmas; I’m not ready for all that just yet.

On the horizon: outfitting N and F for Homecoming; using up the potatoes, carrots and green beans we have; and more fix-it projects including that two-tiered planter I bought.

P.S. We have been needing spoons and Tom bought two bundles of them at Goodwill. This was so satisfying to me. He’s coming over to my side!!