Ode to August

 

 

Hello Friends,

Our days have been full of sunshine and no rain. It is getting very dry here and that is expected for August in our neck of the woods. The cicada's are signing and the butterflies are dancing during the day. And in the evening the crickets sing and the lighting bugs dance.

 During our walk last week we came upon a walking stick. We have not seen one in years. It was fun to stop and watch it walk.

 

 

Hello Mr. Walking Stick 

 

We are in full bloom.

 

Our grapes are turning purple. It soon will be harvest time.

 

 

Looking up at more grapes.

 

 

I have started to collect seeds.

The seeds below are of the pink poppy. 

 

 

The pink poppy.

 

We are still eating strawberries. My netting idea is working. You cannot see the netting very well in the photo, but I have netting on stakes, held down with the pots. This is keeping birds, chipmunk and squirrel out from stealing our strawberries.

 

 

We are still dealing with these guys. Thankfully they do not eat the vegetables or fruit.

Wishing you a fun filled August. We have a busy month ahead enjoying the warm summer days and cool summer nights. 

 ♥

Carla 

Hello August and it is the Hodgepodge

 

August Sunset

Hello Friends, it is Wednesday and that means it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. What's something on your August calendar you're looking forward to? Or dreading if that's easier to answer. 

 We will be having our big family summer party in August. Our family will meet up at the family farm. We will have good eats, time on the water, time on the trails, time playing games and time together.

2. August 5th is National Oyster Day...do you partake? How do you feel about pearls?  

 No, I will not be taking in National Oyster Day.

As far as pearls, oh yes, I do like pearls. My parents gifted me a lovely pearl necklace and earrings a few years ago.

 3. Tell us about a time when you felt like 'the world was your oyster'. 

I feel that way when I plan the garden for the new season. I can play! I can pick out new plants to me, old favorites, switch things or keep them the same.

  

4. Trip Advisor lists seven islands in the US that require no passport (for US citizens). If you're answering today from outside the US you'll still need to produce yours. An-y-way, have you been to any of the seven? Let's pretend you get an all expense paid trip to one this month...which one do you choose and why? 

Catalina Island California~Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts~Mackinac Island Michigan~Key West Florida~South Padre Island Texas~or Kauai Hawaii

I have not been to any on the list.

I will choose Mackinac Island Michigan. I had a friend visit and enjoyed it. Her trip sounded very romantic. 

  

5. Sylvia Plath is credited with the following- 

"August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time."

Agree or disagree? In other words, how do you feel about this month? 

I agree. We can feel Autumn in the air here in Wisconsin by mid August for sure. As far as how I feel about August, I LOVE this month. It is my second favorite month of the year. 

  6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Another August Sunset 

 

 

Garden Time in July

 

 

Hello Friends, 

July is waving goodbye, already, golly this year is flying by. It is time to take a tour of what is going on here at The Little Garden That Could.

The above photo is a miniature tomato plant I have in the greenhouse. It is called Tiny Tim. It has been giving us tomatoes since July 4th. Thank you, Tiny Tim. 

 

 

I quickly snapped a photo of this yellow Dahlia and picked it for a bouquet. The pest pressure has really picked up in the heat and humidity that we are having.

 

 

Hello Gardener's, what is causing this on my Fuchsia? The flower blossom gets nice and big. Just when it is ready to open, it turns brown? Is this some type of blossom rot?

 

 

Water drops on one of my favorite lily. I love taking photos of water drops on plants. 

 

 

The sunlight dancing in the garden is another favorite time I like to take photos. The sun is dancing on my dill patch. 

 

 

Beans and more beans. I pickled the first crop of beans. Yum, cannot wait to try them.

 

 

The raspberry patch is having a fantastic year. We have been busy freezing the berries for winter eating.

 

 

See that fella, that is the pest pressure I was talking about. Nasty old beetles.

If you can help me with what is going on with my Fuchsia I would appreciate your advice.

 

 ♥

Carla 

A Yellow Flower Filled Hodgepodge

 

Hello Friends, it is Wednesday and that means it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. Do your goals and dreams energize or exhaust you? Elaborate. 

My husband and I can feel both. We are currently working on a goal right now. It is feeling a bit exhausting because of several hiccups we have experienced along the way. 

 2. July 23rd is national lemon day. Are you a fan of this flavor? What's a favorite dish or beverage you enjoy that calls for lemons? 

 I love lemon. I love a good lemon bar, lemon bread, lemon pie and I even tried lemon ice cream and loved that. 

 

 

 Lemon Poppy Seed Cake ... yes please!!

 

 3. "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade"...is this something you're pretty good at managing? Have you had to do this recently? If so tell us about it. 

Yes, I am pretty good at making lemonade out of lemons in life. 

Yes, we had to do this just last week. We had our beach day planned on Lake Superior. The smoke from the fires came rolling in. We made the best of the day.   

 

 4. Something you love that is lemon yellow in color? 

Flowers!! Flowers!! Flowers!! 

 

 5. How would you describe your attention to detail? 

 

I do notice things. I usually will point out the detail I am seeing to my husband. 

 

  6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 I must have flowers, always, and always.

Claude Monet 

 

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

 

Hello Friends,

Our 52 dates continue... our kayaking beach day was our # 29.  

It was a good plan. We were going to kayak to the Siskiwit Bay and enjoy the beach.

 

 It was a good plan until the smoke from the Minnesota Boundary Water fires and the Canadian fires began to roll in. 

 

 

Our kayaking and beach day was cut short. 

We planned to try a new place to eat, The Corny Fish Shed. We drove on over to Cornucopia to eat. The meal was very good. Several people were there with the same plans we had as the smoke continued to roll in.

 

Once again on our adventures we came across some sayings and a duck. 

 

The Duck

LIVE FREE OR DIE

AN OWIE TO ONE IS AN OWIE TO ALL

 

 

We enjoyed fish tacos, made with Lake Superior Whitefish.

Guac and Chips.

 Praying for all in the firestorm. The evacuations of the those in the Minnesota Boundary Waters of those canoeing and camping, once again show the love and support we have for each other.

Praying for rain.

Praying for those who have lost so much in this firestorm.

 ♥

Carla 

It is a Tropical Heat Wave and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Hello Friends,

We are in a tropical heat wave here in Wisconsin. It is time to get on the water. I will be doing just that this week and I cannot wait.

Before I do, we will join the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. "Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." Sam Keen

Do you feel less guilty relaxing in July than you do in January? Elaborate. 

 

We will be kayaking this week on the shores of Lake Superior. 

Relaxing outside in July is easier to do in Wisconsin, so yes, I do like to relax in July, especially on the water. But, sitting by a cozy fire on a cold January day with a good book, can be just as relaxing. I do not feel guilty about either... Hee Hee.  

 

 

2. What's a telltale sign you're upset? 

 

I cannot think. I just huff. 

 

3. July 16th is National AI Day. What are your general thoughts and/or experiences with AI? Have you purposely used it? Does it excite you, scare you, or worry you? What do you see as a benefit? How about something relating to AI you see as a negative?   

 

I appreciate the help if I ask it for help. I have asked AI to help me with a few things. I think it can be helpful as long as we have common sense regarding it.

Data Centers are making me nervous, that is a big negative for me regarding AI.

 

  4. You're invited to a summer pot luck and are asked to bring an appetizer, salad/side, or dessert. Which category do you go for and what are you bringing? 

 

I would bring coleslaw, made from our very own fresh garden cabbage, carrots and onions.

 

  5. It wouldn't be summer without___________________. 

 

 

Butterflies and Flowers

Sunsets

Campfires

S'mores 

 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

 Last week I shared that my optometrist recommended some drops for my dry eye. They did not work. Boo Boo! I am trying some new drops today. I do hope they will do the trick.

 

Rewind to June

 

 

 

Hello Friends we are going to rewind to June. We will enjoy rhubarb pie, flowers and an army of ants. Here we go!

 

A slice of rhubarb pie with homemade whip cream.

 

Ernie and I were heading out the backdoor for our morning walk to be greeted by an army of ants. Nope, not spilled coffee grounds. Ants, lots of ants on the move. Thankfully not into my house. 

 

Grapes!! Our grapes are doing so well. After two failed seasons, I am really excited to see our grapes doing well. Keep going grapes!! 

 

 

I will make grape jelly, if they ripen. Keep going grapes, you can do it!!

 

 

Another poppy blooming. 

 

 

My netting worked. I saved the strawberries from the birds.

 

 

Roses!! 

 

Slow down, don't move too fast try to make the moment last.

Happy Summer 

 

Happy Blueberry Day and it is the Hodgepodge

 

The above photo is a pitcher of refreshing blueberry/lemon verbena infused water.

YUM!

It is Wednesday and that means it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun!!  

 1. What's something you enjoy now that your younger self would never have appreciated? 

 Coffee

When I was younger I did not like coffee. Today I appreciate the different roasts, coffee beans and the ways to make coffee. My favorite way to enjoy coffee is making a cup of pour over coffee.  My second is french press. My third is camp coffee.

 

 2. What was peaceful about today? 

Watering my potted plants. 

 

 3. It's National Blueberry Day (July 8). Will you celebrate?  You can have one of the following right now-a slice of blueberry pie, a warm blueberry muffin, or a stack of blueberry pancakes...which do you choose?

 Wisconsin blueberries come into season late July. We usually go to a pick your own farm to pick fresh blueberries to freeze to enjoy during the winter. 

 

I do make a delicious blueberry muffin. And now I am hungry for just that.

 This or that-blueberries or raspberries? raspberries 

blueberries or strawberries? blueberries

 

 4. Do you need a break? From what? 

I currently am doing alright, because we have been receiving rain once a week. Otherwise I would answer, "I need a break from watering the garden."

 

  

5. What has surprised you most about getting older? 

The trouble I am having with my eyes. My eyesight is one thing. And now I have dry eye. It got very bad this spring. I recently saw my optometrist, she recommended some drops I will start this week.  

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My summer display is filling out nicely.