GOT ROOM?

Fall plantings have gotten into high gear... as the picture shows on the right... it's starting to take over the driveway!

The other day we picked up a BABACO PAPAYA to add to the edible mix and visited Mr. Dundon and his 30ft compost heap.  I took some pictures -- take a look!

SOAP MAKIN'

In my quest to make re-batched/hand milled soap that uses natural colorants, I ran across this wonderful site : WOODLAND HERBALS -- a small business owned by a very knowledgeable and friendly lady named Brenda.  She offers ground HERBS & SPICES, some of which are not listed on her site,  to naturally color soap.   I am really excited now at the all possibilities!!!!

HORSE POWER!

We had two loads (16 yards) of horse manure delivered by Tim Dundon { better known around these parts as 'Zeke the Sheik'} Read about his Compost Crusade and his fight to save his 30 year old compost heap or check out  Ladder of Matter.  We covered the whole yard -- front and back with this wonderful, rich compost.  Now, if we can just get a little rain, this place will "explode from the horse power!" -- quoting from Mr. Dundon, using one his many vivid and colorful

MARY JANE????

No, it is NOT marijuana!  But it SURE does look like it!  The plant is called KENAF and is a close relative of Okra and Cotton used primarily for fiber production. It's an ancient plant over 4,000 years old and along with HEMP is a revolutionary way to grow enough of the world's fiber needs without having to cut down any more of the earth's precious trees. 

PUUURTY KITTY!

Yeah, I know this picture has nothing to do with our homesteading project, but I thought it was soooo cute, I had to put it up. Isn't Cassidy (AKA "Pudy Tat") so adorable?

OK, now down to business.  We are continuing re-design the yard, trying to maximize and incorporate more edible fruits into the yard. 

GROOVY GRANNY

I'm almost finished my granny square afghan... 30 or so more squares to go.  Here's a neat link if you are bitten by the granny square bug.  A gal at our knitting group yesterday said she had a huge bag of G'squares that were made by her grandma in the 70's and I am to be the recipient of them.  Cool!

HEAVY METAL

The other day us gals got together searching the garage, cellar and kitchen drawers for  junk so we could turn into useful objects for the yard.  We went a bit overboard...  making 4 wind chimes out of utensils, beaters, keys--you name it!  Also made a cute lil sun catcher out of all those AOL CD's in the mail and some bells.  For the new redwood arbor we got an old chandelier that was salvaged and hung it up with some ivy making an attractive hanging planter.

TALLY ME BANANA?

Here's a pic of a banana squash we harvested from the garden and another of a variety of winter squashes.  Looking forward to eating them in pies or baked.... little drizzling of honey and a sprinkling of cinnamon... mmmm, I'm hungry!

On another subject, we have been having a red tail hawk visiting for the last couple days.  You know when she/he's around because the crows start going absolutely berserk-- cawing like crazy.  Too bad I don't have a powerful zoom on my camera 'cuz the hawk sits right on top of the telephone pole in front of our house.  The other day it was eating a large rat--eewwww!

It's very unusual to see a red tail hawk around here.  We'll have to keep a close watch on the kitty and hens.

IS IT SPRING YET?

As I have mentioned before, the weather this year has been very strange.  So strange in fact that the other day one had to do a double take... some of the daffodils were starting to come up!

FALL PLANTING TIME!

Purchased bulk seeds from a few seed companies.  It's sooo much cheaper than buying individual packets...  Right now we're planting peas, broccoli, lettuces, salad greens, potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, radishes, turnips and tomatoes.  Yep, tomatoes!  We read in a gardening magazine that gardeners in So Cal can plant tomatoes in Sept/Oct.