This site is an archive of ChiotsRun.com. For the latest information about Susy and her adventrures, visit the Cultivate Simple site.
Thank you for all your support over the years!

I Spy Pumpkins

August 31st, 2009

While visiting my mom’s house this weekend I had to take a photo of these pumpkins. They are planted in our corn patch as part of a 3 sisters garden.
Pumpkins
Do you recognize these? They’re Cinderella Pumpkin ‘Rouge Vif d’Etampes’ of course, from those seeds I saved last fall.

Anyone else growing great things from saved seeds?

Playing Hooky Again

August 30th, 2009

Yesterday was a beautiful day, just perfect! I got up and went to the farmer’s market as I do almost every Saturday morning.
Farmers_market
I was excited because I was taking some of my tomatoes to one of my favorite vendors. She told me last week that she lost all of her tomato plants to the late blight that’s going around. She told me that she couldn’t even go out to her garden for 3 days after she had to burn all of her tomato plants. I figured it would brighten her day if I took her an assortment of my heirloom tomatoes. I was right, she was ecstatic!
Famers_Market_vendor
We went to an auction after that for a little bit and then came home. We enjoyed delicious fresh corn and steamed green beans for lunch and then some friends called to see if we wanted to motor. We took them up on the offer and headed up to West Point Market in Akron to buy some artisan cheeses and other interesting items. We went to a small local dive for dinner and then we stopped at Mary Coyle’s for some ice cream!
Mary_coyle_ice_cream_shop
There are still weeds in my garden that need pulled, tomatoes that need harvested and tons of other chores that need done. Since I spent the day playing hooky I’ll have to work extra hard this week to make up for it. But I sure had a great relaxing day which is perfect before a long busy week!

What kinds of things do you like to do when you play hooky from gardening?

Hummingbird Moths

August 29th, 2009

I always find the variety of insects that come through the garden very fascinating. It seems like every time you stop while working in the garden you notice the hum and buzz of all the small things that live in the garden. They range of teeny tiny that you can barely see and then there are big ones like the hummingbird moth.
hummingbird_moth
This is a Snowberry Clearwing Hummingbird Moth, there are a few different kinds. They’re fascinating to see moths that mimic bird. They flit from flower to flower gathering nectar just like a hummingbird. I’m sure many people are confused and think they’re just baby hummingbirds.
Hummingbird_moth_1

Any fascinating bugs in your gardens?

Hello World

August 28th, 2009

Here’s a new bee emerging from it’s cell, not something you see every day.
Bee_emerging_from_cell
One of the great thing about gardening and beekeeping is that we get to see things many people don’t.

Have you seen anything amazing recently in your garden?

My Kitchen Table

August 27th, 2009

My kitchen table is currently littered with canning supplies and a surplus of veg from the garden and the farmer’s market. It is the season for preserving summer’s bounty for those long dreary winter months.
Canning_Jars_on_Table
I’m not a big fan of canning, but I do love the delicious food all winter long.

What methods do you employ to preserve summer’s bounty?

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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