Sorry it has been so long since I have posted anything.  My computer has been out of service for a while.  I am back now and ready to tell you about my pumpkins.

I had a good tun out of pumpkins and gourds this year.  Not as many as last year, but that was intentional.  Last year was a bit overkill.  This year I planted a variety of gourds and pumpkins.  I am already ready for spring so I can start over again.  The large one was 80 pounds.  I was hoping for over 85 because my biggest last year was that big.

This was a sewing project that I was working on.  I am NOT a sewer, I am still learning.  I ripped it apart many times.  I would like to thank everyone that was on-call, ready for me to call with my questions.  I had a lot of people who are ready every time I take on a sewing project.  Though it looks like an easy project, it was a little challenging for me.  I am so happy to have it done though.  Addi Kay will have a pretty dress for next spring!!!

This was the pumpkin that I thought was gong to break my 85 lb. record.  As you can see it is already changing colors and NOT 85 lbs. if I had to take a guess.  Now I am focusing on others that are large.  They are still growing and have a little longer to do so.  Maybe they will break a record?

These are some carrots that I had pulled for my neighbors.  I had no luck with carrots last year, so I am pretty excited to be doing good in the carrot department this year.

This is my Addi Kay with some of our peppers.  I have had some issues with blossom end rot on the peppers and tomatoes, but these ones were fine.

I thought I would give everyone an update on my garden as of today.  We have been having storms lately (thunder, lightening, wind & rain).  I have read that other gardens have been traumatized by them, but somehow mine has come out just fine. 

 I am currently trying to figure out what additive my plants are needing now.  I am having a little trouble with blossom end rot.  I noticed it a little on my tomatoes, but mostly with my peppers.  About a month ago I dug holes next to each of my tomatoes and placed banana peels in them.  I think they really liked that. 

The corn is doing well, nothing exciting to report on it yet.

The tomatoes are loving the heat and see to be doing very well.  Just waiting on RED ones.

The peppers are going crazy, but I need to address the blossom end rot with them.  I have a lot of flowers on the banana peppers but no peppers yet.  All the others have been producing.

The potatoes are popping out of the ground, some still green.  I just keep covering them up.  I think between the storms and the hens they have had a little help finding their way out of the soil.

The carrots are doing great.  I pull one every once in a while just to see.

Pumpkins are taking off.  I have quite a few.  A couple are turning already.  My JUMBO one that I have been waiting on is finally getting big.  Wasn’t the plant that I thought it was going to be though.  Oh well!  As long as I get one HUGE one, I am happy.

The gourds, like the pumpkins are doing great.

The strawberries took a bit of a hiatus, but are on their way back, I think I will have some that need to be picked today.

The snap peas have just started producing.  I just picked my first 3 this morning.

Cucumbers are good.  Picked my first lemon cucumber today.

The onions are getting bigger.

I have entered my baked goods in the fair and am awaiting the judging outcome.  My son, Cameron also entered a couple of things this year as well. 

Nothing much is going on in the garden, just sucking up tons of water because of the heat.  They love the heat though.  I am getting pumpkins galore, gourds too.  Lots of green tomatoes, none red yet.  The corn is huge and is producing well so far.  Not ready to pick though. 

The chickens have started laying.  Little baby eggs.  There are really cute.  My little girls are becoming hens.

Crystal, Omerosa, and Trixy

The clothes don’t take long to dry on the clothesline because it is so hot.  I do love the clothesline.

Potty Training

My compost would be complete if I would leave it alone and quit adding to it.  I have a couple of pumpkins I allowed to stay growing in it.  I have finally been able to construct a second story home for the worms.  If I could only get them to move out of the first story just a bit quicker, that would be great.  They are movin’ on up SLOWLY.  Mostly the baby worms for now.

I am thinking that I want to try Srtawberry Freezer Jam this year.  Does anyone have a great recipe???  I would love to try it out. 

Please and Thank You

I know I have posted before to think about what to enter in your county fair, well, I am back and bringing it up again.  So, for all of you in Deschutes County, it is time. 

If you want to sign up on-line all you do is go to http://www.expo.deschutes.org/

You will see a blue ribbon  (this one).  Click on the ribbon to sign up for your open class entries.

Below the ribbon you will see a book(this one).  Click on the book to find out everything you can enter in open class. 

This will be everything you need to find  what to enter in the fair and get you signed up.  If you would rather do it in person, you can pick up a hard copy of the premium book @ the OSU Extension Office or any Les Schwab.  Just fill out the form inside to the OSU Extension Office (located at the Deschutes County Fair Grounds)

If you cant get something entered in the fair then just come and be supportive and enjoy the sun (but wear sunscreen) haha.

Last year was good for me when it came to pumpkins.  I had a ton of gourds and pumpkins.  This year I have not planted quite so many, but still have high hopes for getting the one.  Last year I not only had a lot of them but, I also had a HUGE pumpkin.  85 lbs. to be exact.  It took 3 of us to get it on the bathroom scale.  I just had to know how big that thing was.  I have never been so proud of something I have grown.  I loved it when people would comment about it or ask if I bought it.

Some of the many pumpkin/gourds from last year

The 85 lb.er.  I have to say the picture doesn’t do it justice

And… this years plant that will give me a even bigger one (I hope).

I have more plants, but I have a feeling about this one.  LOL

For what it matters, I thought that I would let you know how my garden is doing.  It has finally hit the taking off point.  The garden has erupted and I love it.  Of course now I look at things and think about the way I should have done them and will do them differently next year.  I don’t know about all of you, but it seems like all I ever say is “next year I will…”  Kind of makes me laugh.

I took pictures three weeks ago and again this evening

The sunflowers 3 weeks ago

The sunflowers today

The garden 3 weeks ago

The garden today

Ok, ok, in my last post I may have acted like the only good thing I had growing was in a pot by my front door.  Well that’s not the case.  Other things are doing good as well. 

I took a look at the strawberries and to my amazement there were tons, and they needed to be picked ASAP.  So, my daughter went and got the sidewalk chalk buckets and a picking we went.  Soon I found myself yelling for my son to come help as Addi isn’t the best of help yet.  She did say “thank you Mommy/Brother” every time we gave her a berry to put in the bucket.  I thought I would share with you our 1st picking of strawberries.  I cleaned them, cut them and froze them.  I plan on doing the jam thing a little later in the season when I have more.

Just thought I would let all of you know what is growing best in my garden.  Hint, it isn’t IN my garden.  I have a few pots filled with salad mixes along my walk way, up to my front door.  My house faces East, so they get the cool morning sun.  Being a cool weather crop, that makes them oh so happy.  I have a few little hoppy friends that have made themselves a home deep in the jungle of the pot.  I don’t mind, and my daughter has to say “Hi froggy” every time we walk by.  So again, don’t have room for a garden?  Sure you do.  Put it in a pot, and it’s not to late for some of it

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