We have passed the autumnal equinox, the days are getting shorter and the weather must have been waiting for the magic date. We finally started getting some rain. Some of it extreme thunderstorms with wind and heavy downpours, some of it just light rain and sprinkles, but it started Monday night and continues intermittently still. It is much welcomed. The rain also brought more seasonal temperatures, yesterday about 70, today only 60, and Thursday-Sunday, the nighttime temperatures will drop into the 40’s.
Temperatures in that range are when the houseplants that have summered on the front porch on tables and hanging are brought back into the house. The hanging plants have found places, the two large floor plants need better spots, and the holiday catci are on the shelf at the end of the counter. All have been given a fall feeding and a good watering. All were carefully checked for stinkbugs before coming in the house, we have enough trouble with them finding their way indoors without helping them in. The only other ones brought in were the two begonias that daughter gave me for mother’s day that I potted together and have tried to keep pruned. They may or may not produce more foliage in the kitchen window, we will see.
We haven’t been out much since getting home from hubby’s most recent surgical procedure on Monday. A venture through a drive thru for fast food and back to the comfort of his recliner. When out today, we saw that gasoline prices have jumped another dime per gallon, now at $4.29/gallon, so we may skip lunch out for the next couple of days and dine on leftover stew and the chili I am currently making for tonight’s dinner. We had a chicken a few days ago and part of the leftovers from it were made into two individual pot pies Monday evening. The rest needs to find a use within another day or maybe just freezing it diced for a later meal.
The most recent basket of jalapenos from the garden were pickled, making 1.75 gallons of them in the refrigerator for hubby’s pleasure. He eats one with almost every dinner. There is probably at least another half gallon on the plants. I may just leave them to ripen to red so that a sriracha style fermented sauce can be made. The serano peppers turned out to be Anaheims, so I’m not sure what to do with them. I know they are used for chile rellenos, so I may try making them one night or drying them and using them in homemade enchilada sauce.
When we get past the much needed rainy period, all of the vines and weeds that have grown up through them are going to be pulled to dry so that they can be burned off with the dead pear branches. It is much more pleasant to work in the garden when it is a bit cooler.
For now, I will sit and enjoy the sound of the rain and the cooler days and nights, cook, read, and craft.
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