Still, my Swiss chard is just sitting there, as are the red cabbage plants a daughter gave me, half of a 4-pack she didn’t have the room for herself. Even the herbs are looking a little disappointed at the lack of warmth and sunlight. I am looking at the extended forecast for this week, and mid-week promises to be something close to normal for this time of year, and although I don’t personally like the heat–don’t care for air-conditioning, I am pulling for the plants just now, and so will welcome it as it comes and bite that seasonal bullet.
More rain is in the forecast, of course, but I am holding to optimism. I think the old saying “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize” is a good one to cling to just now, and it is the anticipation of a warm and dry September that keeps me out there, pulling the weeds from a muddy plot and watching for signs of insects. I so love that time of year in the yard, that I think I plant my small garden solely in anticipation of of tying up on those cooler nights and warm days full of sunshine, and cans of amber peaches (purchased from somewhere far from South Dakota, of course), pickles and colorful Mason jars of my own “recipe” consisting of oven roasted tomatoes, Anaheim peppers, garlic and sweet onions. I use the latter in everything from a mild salsa for my breakfast tortilla wraps to a flavorful sauce for baked meats and poultry. I’ll share the recipe as the tomatoes begin to ripen.
I am penning this today, as on most Sundays, at my desk at the rear of my home, and even in the temperate mist of this dreary afternoon, there is beauty in the yard. Since I cannot see the mowed down stubs of the weeds in the lawn, it looks almost pastoral out there, bright green and sloping down to the perennial beds in back. My neighbors have lovely yards (much nicer than my own at this particular point in time) and I so enjoy seeing the array of roses and clematis they have planted, flowers that unlike my somewhat sickly looking wave petunias, seem to be oblivious to the wet and cooler conditions.
With married children and grandchildren expected in day to day shifts for visits next week, I am glad to see there are some tomatoes available at the Market, as well as asparagus and rhubarb. I’ll take full advantage of this as well as pick up some good bread to use throughout the week.
