It's been over a week ago now, this trip to our favorite beach. Such a beautiful day. We got on the road about 7 a.m. and the clouds were burning off by the time we stopped in Salem for coffee. An hour later we were spreading out our blanket in our usual spot by the fallen tree on the sand. I took pictures and enjoyed the sun and sounds while the boys surfed and boogie-boarded. These days the three of us spend outdoors together - as I said once before here - these are the days. I love every little bit about them.
We have actually had a few hot days since I last wrote and it's been pretty nice to feel warm to our bones again. Summer! The last few days I've been trying to re-focus on the yard. It seems like in spring it's all about starting projects, planting everything, watching things sprout and flower, and then by this stage of summer the grass is turning brown, I'm pulling up things that have run their course, and I've started losing the will to keep it all going. I'm trying to remedy that feeling by transplanting some things, cleaning some things, and basically just trying to see things with new eyes. Sigh. Summer just seems weird this year.
In other garden news, the pumpkins my husband planted have two pumpkins forming already! There are two long vines creeping across the lawn, and a few smaller ones that were planted a bit later. Our tomato plants are big and jungle-y, but we have only had a few cherry/sungolds, one beefsteak, one black, and one roma to pick so far. I'm still anxiously awaiting that garden tomato sandwich time of year! We had a fantastic raspberry crop this year and were able to tuck many bags away in the freezer and give some to family, too. We have had small amounts of purple beans, kale, sugar snap peas, garlic, yellow crookneck squash, strawberries, and mixed lettuce greens, and we are still waiting on potatoes, onions, grapes, and Brussels sprouts, in addition to the pumpkins and tomatoes. The apple tree is about ready to pick, the four pears are ripening, and the plums are falling off the tree, with the help of squirrels. I
cut all the mint and sage way down last week and am hoping that the mint,
especially, comes back quickly. I've dried and filled a 6-cup jar with
leaves for winter tea, and I'm looking forward to having a hot cup while watching a British mystery come some cold evening in fall.
Reading this now, I wonder how I could feel like there's not much to keep going. There's still so much to look forward to! It's a lot of work, this big yard and this wee garden, and I love every little bit of it.