Month: September 2018

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Quiet Days

It’s a cool and rainy day today.  Coffee on the deck this morning was a quiet and foggy experience.  Very beautiful.  

This afternoon we are just chilling.  Kate and Anna McGarrigle are soulfully playing in the headphones as I alternate between my quest to finish the Internet and enjoying the view of the forest out the window.

The first large harvest of tomatoes is on the counter, almost ready for us to start salsa.  Probably tomorrow.  If it goes quick we will likely make a batch of cheese as well.  We picked up the supplies for both yesterday and cheese is fast.

As I type Kate and Anna give way to the Seekers.  iTunes seems to be in cahoots with the weather to get me to have a nap. I shall fight the urge.  Maybe a bit of guitar practise before a shower and then off to supper for Saturday date night.

I highly recommend retirement.

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Oh, the joys

Last night the septic alarm went off.  

<Doom music> Dum dum dummmm </Doom music>

All I could remember was during the buying process the inspector saying you never want to hear that.  All I could do at the time was shut off the alarm.

This morning with the help of a service tech on the phone I managed to find out the trouble.  Blocked effluent filter between the tank and the field.  Turned out to be a fairly simple fix, just had to remove the filter and hose it out.  

Mmm, nothing like working with sewage.  Oh the joys of country living.

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It’s in the air

The last few days have been magnificent fall days.  Yes, I said it.  Fall.  Certainly not Hallowe’en fall but you can sense it.  The air has a different feel.  The leaves are just starting to think about turning. The garden is getting closer to done.

Speaking of the garden, the Early Girl tomatoes are ripening and I have been picking a handful every day.  They are amazing, the meatiest tomatoes I have ever grown.

The Manitoba tomatoes are slower, with just a hint of colour change on a few that catch the most sun.  The plants are HUGE!  So heavy that the wire cages have been bent right over.  

I was speaking to my neighbour the other day and their tomatoes have been done and picked for weeks already.  They grow against the south facing wall of their house, while we grow in beds in a small clearing in the woods.  The extra sun makes a big difference.  Our yard is much cooler and planting wise a few weeks slower than those with full sun.  The trade off is my house is cool even after a week of 34°C summer days without air conditioning. 

Peppers finally appeared but it is apparent that they will still be a bust this year.  Very few bells and no jalapeños.  Very odd since last year I grew the best I ever have in the same dirt.