October In The Garden and Other Stuff.

This morning, 

before the camera battery died,

I managed to take a few photos 

in my little garden.

 In October,

when others are getting into the fall colors

our summer flowers are 

still blooming.

I've been in a seed collecting mode,

gathering seeds from the Thai basil,

Texas Star (hybiscus coccinea),

green beans, Baby Persian cucumbers,

orange cosmos, marigolds, cleome,

and a coral pink salvia.  Those pink salvia seeds

got bumped off the table and onto the carpet.

They're tiny, but Rick did save what he could.

Most of the seeds I just scatter around

in the beds to come again on their own

next spring.  Some I'll have to purchase 

again... like perhaps the cucumber seeds.

I've never saved them before and I'm not sure

they will be viable or not.  I did let a few 

cucumbers get ugly big, and yellow ripe

before attempting to save the seeds.

That is one slimy mess to deal with

while trying to get the seeds separated

from the cucumber gel.  They stuck to 

the plate when they dried, so anyway,

we'll see if they germinate.

It has turned cooler here with below

normal temperatures.

We've started a fire on just a couple 

of cool mornings, but most of the time

we just bundle up with sweaters and sweatshirts.

We've had perfect weather lately, although

there is a chance of rain overnight.

It's cool enough to start enjoying hot drinks

during the daytime. I've been staying away

from coffee after mid morning.  

Sleeping well,

 has become an issue for me.

Before the furlough stuff,

we started having morning coffee dates 

every other weekend at Starbucks. 

See, we usually have to go to  

Home Depot or Lowe's

 for home improvement supplies.

If I have to go to those stores,  

then he has to go to Starbucks with me

to pick up our pound of

 Blond Roast Veranda Blend.

Costco hooked us on that coffee

at a very reasonable price 

for a 2 1/2 pound package, 

and now they no longer carry it... grrr.

Anyway, the pumpkin scones tempt us,

so we share one.

  I'm sure that somewhere there's a recipe

for a pumpkin scone that's even better,

and not so dry. (Sorry Starbucks)

They have a new drink for fall

called Chocolate Chai Tea Latte.

I usually order a small plain coffee

with cream and no sweetener,

but this tea was really good

and I'd be happy to order it again.

It's black tea warmed with chai spices,

and has the barest hint of chocolate.

I've been crocheting more of those

Queen Anne's Lace scarves,

and yes I see why Claudia

called them Obsession Scarves.

I'm on scarf number eight.

Obsession I tell ya.

I still have to weave in the ends,

and take photos.

I know it's late in the season,

but these are my first ripe tomatoes

in the garden that aren't cherry tomato types.

These are Green Zebra's.

My little garden is shaded until the afternoon.

But I have tomatoes!

This morning I also harvested basil

and made two batches of pesto.

I roasted garlic in the oven

for the pesto, and between the 

garlic and the fresh picked basil my kitchen 

smelled absolutely delicious.

I'm also getting stuff ready for 

the American Cancer Society Tea

table I'm hosting on the 20th.

The napkins and napkin rings are finished.

I have the centerpiece left to put together

and wrap, along with little gifts for each

guest. I'll need to iron the tablecloth,

and pack everything together.

I can't show you anything about the tea,

 because a few of my guests read my blog.

Ah well...

I have more to say,

but it will have to wait.

It's time to head downstairs 

and make something with pesto for dinner.

Take care.