Tricky October. Tricky Tricky October. Although I am all s'mores in the brain…
It is still summer in this land.
Can you believe it?
Is it still summer where you are?
Arizona summer, lingering in October, is super wonderful in some ways. Did I really type that? Why yes, I am coming to grips with it after all of these years. The garden helped me though…
I am still collecting veggies.
Every morning is a treasure hunt…
We still don't have to wear proper clothes.
Thin crisp cottons still work.
The flowers are arriving in gobs.
A whole new wave of pumpkins began their lives this weekend???
Wild, I know. Sprouting on vines that I thought were done, and then had a resurgence of life.
Huge yellow and red bell peppers turn up for supper….
Many more still ripening up…
My entire perception of life changing rapidly, with the garden. Seasons taking on vastly different meanings.
A time for growing, planning, planting, seedlings and earth digging is constant.
Amazing indeed.
Always something to grow. Always something to look forward to.
Hollyhocks planted from seed last spring, grow larger, for blooming next spring.
50+ tomato vines begin another flow of gift giving, right now…
Everyday, there is a little of this, and a little of that. Last week there were still cucumbers, this week, more hot chilies…
The world's hottest chili lives up to its name, big time! (Habanero)
Saving lives in the garden becomes beyond meaningful…
(baby horny toad)
Boys play…
Water droplets collect like jewels on brussels sprout leaves…
Roses get the memo that neon is in (again)…
Matty and I collect sweet basil from one of the many places it sprung up this year (hooray for basil). Ooops, he spots a lizard!
Flat leaf parsley growing in abundance also has taken on importance in my kitchen. Especially when I make beyond spicy Indian food. A little sour cream or plain yogurt mixed with chopped almonds, honey, and flat leaf parsley always cools the palate in the most mouth wateringly delightful way. I sort of invented that mixture one evening when we needed a cooling element to compliment the spice, and now it's a fave. Not sure if it is authentic at all?
But for now, we continue our basil collecting…
Because summer in October means extended evenings of…
Midnight pesto…
Under the twinkling stars, with the moon all aglow…
The scent of tomato vines in the garden, and pesto in a dish, warm bread to spread it on, mmm, summer on your lips…
Summer in October.
I used to fight it, but now, I think I like it?
I really do.
The Halloween season always feels shorter because of the warmth here. I realized that is exactly why I don't ever get full Halloween immersion.
One day, I will have to spend October in Vermont.
But for now, it's basil, thin cotton, a guitar, two pups and warmth on an October evening.
There is pesto in the freezer, along with countless bags of okra and corn from the garden. Saving summer for the day that winter comes, if it comes.
Time to make more pesto right about now!
See you soon 😉
Love, Vanessa
ps: Halloween party in 1 week, wholey guacamole!!!!
pss: OH MY! Mister Lovee is hammering outside ( I can hear him), and I am in the office typing, but I just heard the piano play 4 rooms and 3 stairs away!!!! Ghosties are arriving 😉 eeeeeeee!
YUM!!! All those beautiful garden edibles make me HUNGRY! And the way you talk about cooking… well I would love to have a dish made by you. They look and sound so delish! As for it being summer in Ontario… not anymore. Until about a week ago it was 85 degrees and sunny, but for the last couple days it’s been about 50 degrees and gale force winds and RAIN! Perfect weather for cozying inside with some spooky movies and concocting ideas for your upcoming Halloween festivities. Which I am SO excited for.
Lots of love,
Jenn
Your garden is lovely, Vanessa, and still so abundant! We recently moved to Ohio and it was so chilly this morning {and cloudy} but by afternoon it was very warm and sunny. I’ve had some of the locals tell me “If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes”. It was a great day to visit the Renaissance Fair here. You would have loved it!
Brava to you for making the best of summer in October! Gorgeous vegetables… Cute horny toad… Lovely dogs… My you are blessed – and I am thankful that you share these blessings through your blog.
Wow! I love how you home-grow everything! Does growing all of this food require a green thumb? I’m not sure…sometimes it seems some have the gift and others don’t. What’s your secret? 🙂
And I know what you mean about October flying by because of the weather. Where I am, it’s still hot, but cooling down.
Anyway, I just bought Halloween goodies for the party!!!! Can’t wait, it will be absolutely amazing! :))))
Have a great week!
Hugs and hexes 🙂
xoxoxoxo Jessica
A Woodland Fantasy
Miss Vanessa how lovely your garden still grows! Yes, the Halloween season for us does seem to fly by before we get a good taste of the weather that usually surfaces for most, this time of year. Although, you bring the magic alive for us anyhow with all your creatively entertaining magic!
So what’s Mr. Lovee hammering now? Anything we may see soon? The both of you make such an interesting pair.
I am looking forward to enjoying the bewitching fun that will be arriving soooon! 😉
Love your adorable Horny toad; I used to catch those in the desert when I went camping as a child. We just get geckos here in Phoenix and I had a baby one show up in the house last week. Too Cute! Cheers! <3
Garden yummies!!! Sigh! My pumpkin vine got chopped up by an over inspired garden helper! Ha!! Broke my heart!
Cool nights here with warm warm days. Loving it!
Hugs
SueAnn
Such beautiful gardens and yummy veggies growing. I love how your gardens grow.
Happy Autumn!
You do need to spend some time in Vermont in the fall – the most breathtaking sight I know of. Cannot wait for the party next weekend!
Lisa
Vanessa you write so beautifully. I don’t think i’ve ever told you. You inspire me to be more creative in my writing. 🙂
What a fantastic treasure your garden is!! (How very Yoda sounding of me…)
It is like that in Texas as well. Today it is a high of 90 and Wednesday it is suppose to be a high of 60…oh the joys of living in the South West!
I hope you enjoy your earthen jewels!
♥
dee
Magpie’s Baubles
Lucky you with all those veggies.
I love basil but have never tried making pesto, I think I should.
Our weather is summery/fall. Hot in the day, coolish at night, leaves beginning to turn.
I have a million things I should be doing today, but they will wait.
I dream of the day I can have a garden like yours!
Here in the UK the temperature has dropped and it is now most definitely autumn. Time for pumpkins and apples and hot coffee!
Yes, I know the feeling. Here in the Netherlands we normaly have autumn in september! But now we were sitting outside in the evening on oktober 2nd. Great!! But now it’s over. We had a wonderful weekend but tomorrow it’s rain and storm. So I hope you enjoy your indian summer a long time. hugzz…peebee
That horny toad is adorable.
As for warmer weather, if you think of the Dia de Los Muertos traditions, then the summery temps don’t seem out of season for the celebration. I do love the autumn colors and sweater and scarf wearing moving in up here in the mountains of Northern California. We’re finally starting to see leaves turning around here – we had such a late spring that summer seems to have made up for it by lasting a bit longer here as well. We had a couple cold snaps where I was pretty convinced night frosts would end the garden. I even had to drive through snow over the top a few weeks ago. But then summer held on and I’m still collecting a bit from the garden. Still, coming back from my verbal ramble there, some of my most memorable Halloween memories are from San Diego, where they share the subtlety of season changes you have where you live. Viva la difference!
We’re still having our Indian Summer here in Central California…we had rain less than two weeks ago, and it cooled down for a few days then the degrees went back up…all when I thought I could start wearing my black, suede boots again, and my brown suede leather jacket. Ah! Shucks! Oh, well…winter will come soon enough.
I adore horny toads and they always have such cute tummy’s!
I am dealing with two wild kittens in my back yard and the wild, feral mama cat…I need to train them and I did find a wonderful site: the lucky few…all about taming feral cats. That is on my high priority list of things to do. Wish me luck! I do love animals and want them to have a better life.
It’s in funny how weather can change in a moment? I do love the crunch of snow under foot when it comes. But that happens mostly in the mountains 20 miles away.
Have a lovely week Miss V…I can’t believe it is the beginning of another week!
Are you making more dolls and cupcake girls?
I need to start making more dolls, as I do enjoy creating from scratch!
hugs,
Miss Teresa
Here I am in VT- freezing cold a l r e a d y & often wishing I was back in the Western US… Good to read your entry to (re)remind myself of the beauty of the season here. PS: You are welcome here any time!! 🙂
Aaahhhhh! That wee horny toad has made my day!! Your a delight, my dearie!!! 🙂
Total yummyness! Your garden posts get me all motivated. Honey Man and I moved into our house a year ago and the back yard is screaming for a secret garden. Thank you for sharing your garden goodness.
Have a great day.
Always, Queenie
Darhling…
I forgot to comment on the caviar photo…
looks scrumptious!
What brand do you buy?
We have a five star restaurant in town that charges $60 more added to the price of your meal if you request caviar…my sister and her husband ordered some with their meal years ago and found out ‘after the fact’ how much is cost them when their dinner bill came…It was a meal to ‘remember’!!!
Smiles 🙂 😉
Miss Teresa
If that’s not a photo of caviar…I’ll eat my hat! You did mention s’mores…
Hee! Hee!
Ooooh, Dearest Dear Miss Vanessa! Caviar….ummmy-yum! And isn’t it just the lovely-est shiny black color!!! Perfect for the palate and the eyes!
I’m so happy that you are still able to enjoy the summer weather! Here in Western Maine, only some of the trees have changed, although we never really had hot nights all year long! I think the poor trees are all confused! I would trade your extended summer for anything (almost)! We are solidly in chili and apple crisp weather here.
Teacups are rattling and midnight oil is burning here at The Tearoom in preparation for Saturday’s party!
Hugs to you,
Betty
You should spend one October here in the UK. At the minute it’s beautiful sunshine but chilly and very windy. In fact last night, we were snuggled in our living room and a huge gust of wind blew the patio door open. It was like something out of a ghost story! 🙂
I am giggling madly!! it is smores!! it is a smooshed fire
torched marshmallow. But I do eat caviar from time to time, so I would
love to pretend, as it can be either. But those are graham crackers and
marshmallows 😉
Oooooooooo, welcome in Vermont you say? Oh, I must get the courage to
travel again 😉 Then I will be there!! ;))
Beautiful shots! Now I am ready to eat. I need a place to put a garden!!
How funny that you mention Vermont in October! It’s one of my favorite places to be this time of year…I simply cannot wait until next October, when we will be going back there to visit! (We go every five years) Looks like it is harvest time for you! Such yummy treats you’ve featured. Alas, our groundhog “friend” did quite a number on our garden this year – but there is nothing like like fresh fruits and veggies!!!! My hubby makes and cans tomato sauce each year – and it runs circles around store-bought. Enjoy your delicious bounty!!! xoxo
The first photo is my favorite, yum, yum, looks delicious.
That baby horny toad is so adorable! If one tried to kiss a horny toad, I wonder what would happen? Have you ever tried it? With one as cute as this, I don’t know if I could resist!
Your adorable bike just threw me into COVET MODE. 🙂
I just posted my party…will come back later to link.
I like basil but have never tried making pesto, I think I should.