Yes, it is definitely the first day of fall. And it was busy, busy, busy- frantically trying to get things done that I thought I had a few more weeks to do. We've got a freeze watch out for this evening (and a freeze warning not far away!) so all those things that need to happen before a freeze had to happen TODAY!
So, I picked several gallons of peppers, eggplant and every tomato that was starting to turn. All the houseplants were brought in from outside and sheets were thrown over parts of the garden. I know I can't save it all if it freezes/frosts but I did want to protect the few big squash that are just starting to ripen, some of the heavier laden tomatoes and a few peppers. I've got 6 old sheets that I'm using to protect things. Hopefully it will be enough or it won't get down to as cold as it is forecast.
I also went scrounging for canning jars today. I was out of real canning jars in the house. Oh, I've got some mayo jars that I got from Mom but I hate to can in them. But, I remembered that when we moved in several years ago some jars got stashed under a tarp in the barn. With all the chaos of remodeling, we didn't really have room in the house and they were 'extras'. Some were wide mouths that I had purchased a couple of years ago and there were some that I had received from Mom. I thought I had, maybe two cases. Imagine my excitement when I pulled back the tarp to find 5 cases of jars!! One of wide mouth and 4 regular. Yowza! What a bonanza! I didn't realize I had so many. I do think most of them are from my Mom who has slowed down her canning. There are even a few old jars in there. I'll probably not use them for canning just because they are so old and cool, but I do love the look of dried beans and such in canning jars on the pantry shelves.
V finished building (or re-building!) the garden shed today and lots of stuff was relocated. The shed now houses the tiller, snowblower, push mower, wheelbarrow as well as most of the hand tools like shovels and rakes. I got photos but haven't taken them off the camera yet.
I also got a bunch of stuff done inside the house today as well. You know, the regular laundry type stuff.
Oh, and I've got tiny lettuce seedlings up in the greenhouse! Woot!!
What are you on, Wonder Woman? You get more done in a day's time than most other people I know . . . put together! For us gals concerned about preserving and stocking the pantry, the discovery of those canning jars would be like Christmas in September. I would love to have (fantasy time here) about ten cases each of quarts, pints and jam jars stocked up in the basement. What a feeling of security! Then if anybody ever needed some jars and couldn't get them, I'd have them to share.
ReplyDeleteWe're down to 40 here at 8:15 so it's possible we could get some frost by morning. I don't think I'm quite ready. (Are we ever?)
We were already at 38 when I went to bed last night. The thermometer said 33 this morning on the front porch but the garden is toast.
DeleteWe're still waiting for a frost and rain, to clear the forest fire smoke, hack, hack. I'm getting mental list ready for fall- clean the gutters, store stuff in the shed...
ReplyDeleteOh yeah... gutters. I had forgotten about them. I do hope you get some rain to wash away the smoke.
DeleteGreat find on the jars! We got down to 35 degrees here but I think all is well. I picked a ton of stuff too just in case. Hope I have room in the freezer!
ReplyDeleteI just did a post. We got hit hard last night so I think what I've got is what I've got.
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