Slipping into Autumn

So here we are in September. How could a summer go so fast?

There has been some change in the maple trees, always the first to show their colours.

The nights are colder and energy seems to be in a state of flux as the harvest swings into higher gear.

The first local apples- MacIntosh- are in the stores and the produce is coming so thick and furious that we are lucking in to some incredible sales like a case of corn in their husks for 99 cents. We counted 17 ears, all fresh and sweet!

Towards the end of last week, I wandered into the garden

capturing the clematis festooning the composter with their resplendence

The garden is getting away on us, but we still manage to use what has bolted in our juicing

The peaches had to be rescued from marauding blue jays

It helped the slim pliant trunk that we relieved it of some of its weight

after taking a few appreciative pictures. The fruit is luscious.

The cucumbers bailed on us, getting fatter and fatter, so Wally picked them too.

We're managing to keep up with the cherry tomatoes

Here, from left to right, are chard, carrots, beets, and kale

with broccoli bolting in the back

We still make the most of our broccoli by juicing it along with a big bowl of other veggies:

Cucumber

Carrots

Celery

Beet

Ginger

Lemon

and always Cilantro

Many other things make it in from time to time like:

Kohlrabi

Romaine Lettuce ends

Parsley stems

Kale stems

well, you get the idea

Here a busy Bumblebee works on a Broccoli Flower

Note the Pollen Sac that appears to sit on its abdomen, looking like a pale egg.

(The pollen basket or corbicula is part of the tibia on the hind legs of certain species of bees. They use the structure in harvesting pollen and returning it to the nest or hive.)

The Bumblebee has to be the friendliest of all the bees

for they allow you to get quite close

Here is a lovely Kale amidst the bolting Broccolis

Our Harelsons are not doing too well this year, most of them dropping from the tree,

infested because we don't spray for the infamous Codling Moth

Here is the beginning of Wally's concrete patio tile path that he has laid with weeping tile beneath to help deflect the spring run-off from melting snow. A Nine Bark bush seems to be taking over.

On the back deck, the cherry tomatoes are doing well as they loom over the potted cilantro

In the vestibule, Babu and Muji are settling in

for a nap

Yesterday I scanned the street during a quiet spell and found this manhole

on the other side of our frontage. I can hear it clanging already with future traffic.

A pile of sand to its left

A stack of water pipes waiting to be laid sit on my neighbours frontage

and on it goes....

and now, for no reason in particular except that I've been humming this tune lately,

here is a fabulous early recording of Alice Faye from 1936- that's 80 years ago.

have a lovely slide into autumn

a quiet summer weekend

A quintessential summer afternoon here as I write, a sky so hazy that it is almost white. We had a pleasant weekend here, uneventful, except for the new kitchen electric outlet that Wally put lower on the wall so that our cords weren't showing mid-wall.

I almost caught the cats sleeping, but they woke as I composed my shot.

Muji sits up with the vintage curtains as a backdrop.

I made a quinoa tabbouleh that I served with avocado,  It has become a summer staple .

I don't use traditional measurements, but if you want to give it a try: 

• Toast the quinoa til somewhat golden in a pan on top of the stove.
• Add leftover vegetable water slowly as it wants to boil immediately because the pan is so hot.
• Turn off the heat just before the quinoa has absorbed all the water, cover with a lid and let itself steam and naturally plump up. 
• When done, remove the quinoa to a lasagna dish and allow to cool, folding over at intervals to speed the cooling up,
• Skim mint leaves off the stem but running fingers down the stem, they will make about a big handful and chop up into a large bowl.
• Cut away coarse stems and chop the tender stems and leaves of a big handful of parsley. Add to the bowl.
• Add the cooled, cooked quinoa
• Press garlic, about 3 or 4 cloves onto the quinoa.
• Dice small cucumber and a large tomato and add
• Sieve the juice of one lemon and add
• Add a whack of flax seed oil, maybe 3/4 cup
• Fold all ingredients gently until thoroughly mixed

enjoy

Here's how I found Muji on Sunday morning,

I'd washed my flip-flops after working in the garden the night before and set them here to dry.

An irridescent black/blue bug- a hornet? about an inch long.

 It seemed benign until I saw these mandibles magnified.

but it only rested and flew off

hoping all our cares are so light