Weather has been mild, and overcast. 40’s and 50’s, not windy. Beau has been working on the never-ending metal roofing project and he’s in the home stretch for the main part of the house. Roof on the porch must be taken off and rebuilt, but not sure that’ll happen this year. I continue to earn Girlfriend Brownie Points by being his Go-Fer and Clean-Up Crew.
Now that scaffolding has moved to the FRONT of the house, I cleaned up the large back deck, swept it and got furniture tucked away for the winter. Staining the deck is another future project.
Since we had a less-windy Fall, a LOT of leave accumulated on the lawn, so I mowed one more time (high) to chop them up a bit and they’ll make the lawn (and Good Bugs) happy, over winter. The big Maple tree has ‘mulched’ four of my garden beds for me this season. How nice of her! ;)
Planted more tulip & daff bulbs, and after a few more freezes I’ll trim back the strawberry bed and get that mulched in for the winter, too. We put the stakes in for the six Grapes we put in, so they can be trained properly. I need to do some maintenance with the new asparagus bed, too - but I have to look that up; can’t remember what type of fertilizer goes on in the fall...
My greenhouse is still housing TOO MANY winter squashes, some remaining Geraniums, Rosemary and Lemon Thyme and two flats of lettuces that are looking fan-tastic! The Chipmunks keep nibbling off the Kale plants I have started in there...but everybody’s got to eat, I guess. I have little critter damage to the garden with cats and dogs running around all the time. I’ll share - but just a little. And just Kale. ;)
I’m planning two more raised beds along the south and west sides of the greenhouse; one will be for Roses and the other for Perennial and Annual Herbs.
I got a great price on Honeycrisp Apples, so bought 12 lbs. and have been having fun with them. So far pies, coffee cakes, and warm cinnamon apple slices over frozen yogurt as a treat.
Homemade Wine, Applejack (Apple Brandy) and Kahlua are all started to be ready for The Holidays. Brought in my houseplants that were loving life on the semi-shaded porch this summer; my ‘Christmas Cactus’ has a flower bud on EVERY stem! It’s peach and so, so pretty! It usually blooms in mid-November. I’ve had it for close to 15 years, now. (I’d better put her in my Will!)
Now t’s time for a good, long rest and planning for next year!
Now that I’ve read your post, I have vicariously participated in so much activity, that I must lay down and rest. LOL just kidding. Fantastic report.
I have been doing research on backup generator and power systems. Everyone around seems to just put in a Generac. However, I really would prefer something different.
For some reason, a wind mill is appealing, and given the MO. weather, likely better than Solar. I really am most concerned with making sure the well pump has a power source, although a tie in to the hot water heater would be nice too.