What I Did On My Summer Vacation.

August has been a pretty laid back month for us, for the most part. The weather was lovely (not as hot as July) and we had some really nice times.

One fun thing we did was go blueberry picking with Grandma and Grandpa. The pickings were rather poor, it being near the end of the season, but I did get a good enough amount to freeze for snacking and smoothies. No blueberry jam or pies this year, though.

And after picking, Grandpa took us out for lunch and then for a romp at the lovely park at the Leamington marina.

I did buy a bucket of cherries at the grocery store and made jam, so my shelf of jam jars is looking respectable again. Too bad I didn't have the time or energy to give pickles a try this year. Next year, maybe.

I sighed every time I looked at the two tiny green tomatoes that will apparently be the sum total of our tomato harvest this year. (The other plant, although it is quite large, has zero tomatoes.) Then, a few days ago, one of my children broke off the upper tomato. (And then Owen exclaimed, "Now we won't be able to make spaghetti sauce!") So now, our 2011 tomato harvest = 1 very small, very green tomato. *sigh*

I picked the single zucchini that we got from the garden, and made a big chocolate zucchini cake--which I neglected to cook all the way through (oh well).

We planted sunflower seeds this year--and we got only one flower. It was tiny, to say the least. Yes, it was a dwarf variety, but the seed packet said the plants would reach 20 inches tall, and our plant couldn't be more than 6 inches. Not very impressive.

The garden wasn't all bad though. I've gotten a nice harvest of calendula for my healing salve--it's impressive how long the plants seem to be flowering!--and the pole beans we're growing against the fence are producing lots of tasty beans.

I actually have a surplus of calendula now, and I wish I could bring them into the house as cut flowers--but the stems seem to be covered with aphids as well as various other tiny bugs. I wonder if this is a common thing with this plant? I thought plants in the marigold family were supposed to repel bugs!
But enough about the garden. The past few weeks, I spent a lot of time smiling at the sight of my youngest, who has discovered how to bounce in her jolly jumper...

And bounce, and bounce, and bounce...

My parents gave us a highchair for her, and I can't believe how big she looks, sitting in it! So much for that newborn thing...it apparently lasts only about 5 minutes.

Well, that's about all that we've been up to. Nothing really much, which is just fine for this sleep deprived mommy.

Please dear readers of mine, tell me what you did on your summer vacations!

Comments

[Provincial Homemaker]

Sounds like a busy summer. Sorry that your garden wasn't more productive. But, at least you had success with the calendula right?

Loved seeing the photo of your daughter on the jolly jumper.

No summer vacation for us here in Australia - last days of winter now.

[sheila]

Sorry about the garden disappointment. I do have 2 very simple pickle recipes that I would pass on to you if you change your mind about doing a little canning. :) This year I am just using cucumbers that I am slicing up...I didn't plant enough vines to harvest tiny little pickles every day. Enjoy these days with the little ones....they are precious times.

[Marijke]

So happy to have you back here! :)

Don't be sad about your garden. It's lovely to have that much calendula and beans. My tomatos didn't really look much better until last week (good, I have a little more tomatos on it, but not much), when suddenly the colour came, out of nothing. A very experienced mother I know told me, to let (fallen off or still unripe when frost comes) tomatos ripen in your kitchen. I hope you didn't throw the one away, that fell off. Just lay it in the sun, they don't need the plant to ripen.
The bouncing is great. Enjoy!

[Citysister]

My calendula has been going bananas as well...I found more sprouting from the early season seeds already...they are everywhere...I'm drying lots of the flowers for tea this winter as well as mint. Our tomatoes are rather sad as well...deer and rabbits have been having little feasts on Saturday nights.

[Catie]

Love the bouncing picture. We have a bouncer identical to yours (I call it the Johny Jumper) and it's still my son's favorite toy (he's 15 months old.) When things get a little rough (cranky mama, cranky baby) I sit and watch him bounce, bounce, and bounce some more. Contagious joy.
Glad you had a great summer break--look forward to following you through the fall. :)