Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Door(s) into Summer

My harvests are in no way overwhelming yet -- I've managed to keep up with what we're generating here (mostly beans, squash, and kale, with some hot peppers) and eat lots fresh and turn some into save-for-laters. I even used a large bag of plums from a workout buddy and made jam.

Check out my new, cool Tatler BPA-free lids. I'm still experiencing a small learning curve, since that plum jam on the left came unsealed, but I'm excited about them. Another thing that keeps me excited about gardening is my giddy, "I can't believe I grew it myself" reaction to things like that Marketmore cucumber. Seriously, I started it from a seed scant months ago, and it looks like I just snatched it up out of a market somewhere. Snort. Cracking myself up is a survival technique around here.


And out front, the first ripe tomatoes. Of course they're Sungolds. Prolific and tasty, they are the perfect "help yourself" variety. That reminds me -- I should make a sign for out there.


But the very best things? Eric made new front doors. Seriously. He glued up stock to make it thick enough, made rails and stiles, figured out how to cut molding to hold panels, got them hung, which as anyone can tell you, is the really hard part, and put on new door hardware. Doors! That close!

Now all we have to do is to decide what to paint them, and by extension the whole house. Why do I get the feeling that there is scaffolding in my future? Any how, I'm terribly proud, and a few months of house painting would probably do us good.

Sigh.


I'm so proud of him I could burst, and it's hard not to use these as a springboard into a different kind of harvest -- the honey-do!

10 comments:

Annie*s Granny said...

You've been so busy preserving! I haven't done much of that yet, except put stuff in the freezer. Tomatoes will come soon enough.

The doors look fantastic. Mr. Granny wants the house exterior painted, and thinks I can handle that. I'm not so sure. I was still in my sixties the last time I did that, I really don't think I'm capable of doing it again. Maybe in the fall, a little at a time :-(

Unknown said...

You should be proud those are absolutely beautiful doors!! I need to grow sungold. I may be the only way I can have tomatoes ripe at the same time that that lettuce is available.

A.N.N.'s Educational Services said...

glad you tried the lids.

Stefaneener said...

Granny, as always you make me tired just thinking about it.

GrafixMuse, they are an outstanding tomato, if a hybrid. All the cherries are speedy, in my experience.

Erika, I like them. Time for a grease pencil. I'll lose track of what is what, otherwise.

Kendra said...

That's incredible that he made those doors! And the thought that you might paint your own house is also incredible. We tried last year, for about two weeks and then gave up and hired someone!

The harvest and canning looks great!

Ottawa Gardener said...

He made doors? Very impressive indeed. My first tomato (I just noticed today) is Golden Nugget. Our garden has been hit by various issues this year so I'm happy for what I get even if it doesn't include broccoli or many carrots - earwigs...

Curbstone Valley Farm said...

That cuke looks stunning! We just started get cucumbers over the last couple of weeks, but mostly pickling varieties thus far. I'm jealous of your tomatoes. Ours are close, but not quite there yet. Just need a few more days of this fabulously sunny weather.

I'm impressed with the doors! That's something we need here, some better doors (mostly interior). If I can't find some I like to salvage, I may be following in his footsteps, and making my own!

Erin said...

wow he MADE doors?!! That's so cool. Congrats on those Tattler lids, they are on my wish list :)

kitsapFG said...

Well you absolutely have reason to be proud, both for the door making and also for growing that fine looking cucumber! I have to confess to getting that same feeling when I harvest especially nice items... it's part of why I garden I think!

Kristin said...

Congratz on the doors and what a charming man to make them!

Let us all know about your fine tuning of those BPA-free lids. I too would like use those for obvious reasons, but would love to learn from your trials--that's fair to say isn't it?