Tuesday, October 11, 2016

The Last Hurrah

Well, that's it - gardening season is officially over.

That's not to say there's not plenty of work that remains to be done, in and around the garden. Not a chance.

It's just that our short growing season has officially come to an end.


Because of this. 

Yup, you're seeing that correctly - when I woke this morning the temps were in the mid twenties. 


I walked over to fill the bird feeder and there was ice on the deck and frost on the deck railings. 


And there were tiny birdie footprints in the frost. Poor little things!

I've been watching the weather forecast, of course, and I knew it was coming. 

Which is why yesterday I spent a couple of hours in the garden, harvesting everything that was left. 


Not a bad final harvest for a tiny little crooked garden! We certainly got our money's worth out of those seeds I bought last winter


After I got a big pot of soup simmering on the stove, I settled down at the kitchen counter with that pile of dried beans...and a martini...and got busy shelling. 


These gorgeous beans will make a few amazing pots of soup this winter!


The autumn sunlight streaming in on this frigid morning was so lovely, I couldn't stop snapping photos. 


The wood stove has been lit continuously since Sunday, and truly does an amazing job of keeping the house cozy and warm. 


In the mornings before work, I sit in that leather chair closest to the fire with my coffee and a good book. 

What a perfect way to start the day!


Of course, no photo of my home would be complete without a few doggie toys thrown around. 

This little monkey belongs to....guess who....?


THIS little monkey! 

She loves to find the sun puddles in the mornings and settle in for a snooze. 


As we move into the next season I am so grateful for the months of warmth and sunshine that gave us such a wonderful harvest this summer. Our growing season may be short but we sure do pack an awful lot of garden goodness into such a short span of time!

Now it's time for cozy fires and good books. Which is just fine with me - I could use a little rest and relaxation!

55 comments:

  1. you are the cutest human ever! and your house is so inviting and warm, lucky to live in it.:D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your garden was totally amazing all summer. Loads of great food and you have tons of it canned too. Now the house looks like it is ready for snuggle time by the fire.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a stack of magazines next to my chair calling my name, Marty!

      Delete
  3. I can't believe you reaped so much from that garden! And that you use every single bit you harvest. I bet that soup tastes great. By the way, I'm in shorts with the air conditioning on...
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh my gosh, shorts and the air conditioner? It's almost like we live in two different countries!!

      Delete
  4. Your garden was incredible this year. I'm so impressed. I love all your pics. Happy Fall.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a great little garden, Valerie, and I will miss my fresh produce so much now!!

      Delete
  5. You can take a nice bow...for you truly had a great garden and did reap quite a lot of veggies to eat thru your winter months. I like that you saved all you could too. I can see why you have a fire...that's cold. Seems to have arrived quickly too. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had to let the fire die out today, Susie, it was so warm in the house!! And yet, nights are so cold....brrrrrr!

      Delete
  6. Temps in the 20's? Brr, that's so cold already! We've had several nights dipping into the high 30's and I thought that was bad enough. No frost here yet, but it's coming anytime now. Your home looks so pretty and cozy. I would love to curl up by that fire with a good book - sounds heavenly. You sure reaped a wonderful bounty in your garden - kudos to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Melanie! That's pretty much my favorite way to wind down, is to curl up in that chair with a good book and either a cup of something hot or a nice glass of red wine!

      Delete
  7. Such a cozy post, martinis go well with shelling beans! You really did get a good harvest just in time. Adorable little dog, she's a cutie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She is a cutie, that's for sure - and she loves her toys!!

      Delete
  8. We got to around freezing last night too. Had to bring in the recently purchased mums. I guess Fall is here?? And here I thought I could hold on to summer just a weeeee bit longer ;).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope, we are in the Northeast, my friend, and summer is a thing of the past at this point!!

      Delete
  9. Wow! It got really cold at your house soon! I thought we were cold this morning as we were in the low 40s! Your garden produced some yummy looking veggies! All of those different beans look so good! Your house is so pretty and warm and comfy looking! Thanks for sharing it with us.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do love my little house, Shelia - it's truly my sanctuary, my refuge!

      Delete
  10. Everything is still lush and green here but changes will come soon. Enjoyed your photos and also your love of the seasons...Very sorry to read about the losses in your personal life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you - it was a very rough time and I'm glad to put it behind me at this point. It's good to be able to find beauty again instead of pain and heartbreak.

      Delete
  11. Oh my goodness, you and I both have very similar blogs today don't we? :) I commend you for putting way more effort into your post though, mine was just pictures. ;) I was saving my energy for my grandkids coming to visit later in the day...well that is my story and I'm sticking to it! LOL! Be blessed my friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I laughed when I saw your post because I had just finished posting mine that was so like yours!!

      Delete
  12. I am so sad :( we had the same weather and I am going to miss gardening . youre right, we did have a short season but here's to next year! CHEERS!! Also, love the photos of your home. GORGEOUS!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now's the time to put in your spring bulbs for next year, Ellen, if you really want to keep the garden bug going a little longer!!

      Delete
  13. What wonderful looking beans! Totally making me need to start a pot of soup. We are right behind you on the temperatures, we awoke today to 36 degrees.... this will soon mean the very last of my husband's tomatoes in the garden. Guess the hearty goodness cannot go on forever, but at least we have next year to look forward to... xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll miss the tomatoes the most, I think!! Supermarket tomatoes are so lame in comparison!

      Delete
  14. Hi Deb.
    You did so great with your garden this year. You will love having all those wonderful meals this winter.
    Your little Monkey is adorable.
    Hugs,
    Kris

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will surely love having all those meals in the winter, Kris! I also shared some with my aunt who lost her husband recently - it was good to be able to send her some home cooked meals so she wouldn't have to think about cooking or going out alone.

      Delete
  15. You did so well with your sweet crooked little garden. Next year's garden will be even better.

    Your house looks so comfy/cozy, very welcoming.

    Happy Autumn ~ FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lorraine - I've been thinking of you with the hurricane and hoping your little plum cottage was ok!

      Delete
  16. A really lovely final harvest. Your photos are just so beautiful ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww, thanks Summer! A different kind of beauty, for sure, than what you get at your lovely home!

      Delete
  17. Such a warm and cozy home, even though the frost is shimmering outside! I Love the pictures, the doggies, the harvest! You are truly blessed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I truly am, Vickie, without a doubt - and it's me that knows it! :)

      Delete
  18. If your photos weren't so beautiful this would truly be a very depressing post! Thank goodness for the beauty of it all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry to depress you, Rita - I don't mind the cooler weather, every season is so lovely on the mountain top!

      Delete
  19. Hard to believe it is time to pack the garden in, isn't it? Summer flew by here. That is really cold- I think we usually beat you to freezing temps but you are ahead of us this year (that is a race I don't want to win anyway).

    Your home is just lovely-warm and welcoming and inviting. I could sit right down and drink a cup of coffee there and feel right at home. xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
  20. You sure got a lot of food and did a lot of preseving from your gardening season! Kinda sad to see it come to an end but like you say, time to relax and books! Nancy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's always sad to pack in the garden, but I also adore the change of seasons!

      Delete
  21. ouch...mid-twenties! We went to 35 the other morning but the frost was light

    ReplyDelete
  22. ouch...mid-twenties! We went to 35 the other morning but the frost was light

    ReplyDelete
  23. Birdie footprints in the frost?! I swooned! :-) What a cozy nest you have! This post made me feel as if I've had a mini-vacation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How lovely, Jean...I'm glad I could make you feel that way!!

      Delete
  24. Your garden did awesome this year! I know you put so much effort into it :) Our garden season ended the first week of September, so you had it good :) lol! Your house looks so cozy with all your fall decor... and it is now the season to relax, indeed :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It truly DID do awesome this year, although there were fails also....there always are!!

      Delete
  25. Such a lovely post...your harvest of vegetables is wonderful and everywhere looks so cosy and ready for the change of season. Like you, I love the summer and the gardening, but I am happy in the cosy autumn and winter too.
    Helen xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are those type of people who would not be happy in a place where the temps are warm all year, I suspect!

      Delete
  26. Amazing how much you were able to harvest right until the end. We have had some cooler days, but it will be back up to 80 degrees for a few days coming up. Autumn has not gotten a hold on us yet. xo Laura

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, back to 80's - that's mid summer weather for us!!

      Delete
  27. Your place is so charming and cozy. It's so cold up there already, but boy oh boy, you make the most of it. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right, Kim, I definitely do! And cheers right back at ya, my friend - have a great weekend!

      Delete
  28. This post reminds me of a favorite Little Golden Book called "Two Little Gardeners". The illustrations are so cute. It is just like your garden, from planning, growing and harvesting and then settling in for the winter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, how sweet! Someday when I have grandchildren (not yet, please!!) I must remember that book!

      Delete

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment...I truly love reading your comments and I try to respond to each and every one of your sweet comments right here on my blog page!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
09 10