Beyond the Path Train Ride

Today we took a short ride on a restored train with a steam engine built by Baldwin Locomotive Works September, 1924.  The engine weighs 60,000 pounds and was built for American Viscose Co., Roanoke, Virginia.  The engine was completely restored to operating condition between 2004-2007.

It was a damp and windy day, so we were glad we had decided to purchase tickets for the enclosed refurbished car which was manufactured in the 1930s.  Our ride took us through our own town, behind businesses and homes that we've never seen from that vantage point, and continued to the trestle bridge overlooking 18 Mile Creek.

On trestle overlooking 18 Mile Creek

Autumn

We have two sugar maples and two red maples on our property which we tap in February for sap to make maple syrup.  The sugar maples are the first to change color in Autumn.

I see the turning of a leaf

dancing in an autumn sun,

and brilliant shades of crimson

glowing when a day is done.

Hazelmarie Elliott

Grape Juice

I picked the Concord grapes from our small vineyard : ) of three vines and was able to squeeze out about 5 quarts of lucious juice.  The house was filled with that wonderful grape aroma!  


After stripping the grapes from the stems I boiled them in a pot to release the juice and crushed them with a potato masher.  The grapes were then strained through cheesecloth to produce the juice with no seeds or skins. No sugar was added to the juice.


I processed and sealed the quarts for 15 minutes in a water bath canner, so they will last for months on the pantry shelf.

Grapes boiling in the pot

Quart jars after being processed in hot water bath canner

Tulip Bulbs

This past Spring, after the tulips had bloomed and the foliage died down, I dug up the bulbs and saved them for planting this Fall.  Normally, I leave the bulbs in the ground, but this Spring there were all leaves and not many flowers.  The photo below is from Spring blooming a couple years ago and I'm hoping that dividing the bulbs and replanting them will encourage them to bloom again. We shall see!

Tulips at entrance to perennial path,  Spring 2014

I planted my saved bulbs in the same location at the entrance to the perennial garden on both sides of the arbor.  First, I dug the trenches about 3 times the depth of the bulbs.

Bulbs that were dug up and saved from last Spring

Trench on left and right of path entrance

Next, I sprinkled bone meal into the trenches and mixed it into the soil.

Then I placed the bulbs, pointy end up, into the trenches and covered with soil.

We have a problem with the squirrels digging up bulbs, so I placed chicken wire over the planted areas and will remove the wire after the bulbs have begun to sprout next Spring.  At least that will discourage the squirrels from digging them up during the fall, winter and early spring months. Hopefully, I'll have pretty pink flowers in May. I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, Back at the Farm ...

It won't be long before the tractor at the Community Garden farm transforms into plowing mode to turn under the remains of the plants that did their job in supplying the bushels of fresh, organic produce this growing season.

Today, I picked the last handful of green and yellow beans, the rest of the onions, lots of red tomatoes, and a few hot peppers.  There are baby hot peppers that still might have time to mature.   I'm leaving the green tomatoes on the vine a little longer.  I'll have to watch the weather, because if frost is in the forecast, the green tomatoes and peppers will have to be picked beforehand.

The farm that leases parcels to the Community Garden members grows pumpkins to sell at their garden center.  Here's a photo of just a small portion of the hundreds and hundreds of pumpkins in the field.

Pumpkin & Succulent Fall Centerpiece

There was a good deal on pumpkins at our grocery store -- $3.99 for a large one -- so I couldn't resist buying one in order to try making the popular pumpkin/succulent centerpiece that I've seen, but never tried before.

All that is needed is a pumpkin, assortment of succulents, glue gun, tacky glue, moss, and any other decorations to make your centerpiece unique to you.

The nice thing about it is that you don't even have to cut into the pumpkin, so it should stay fresh for a couple months, hopefully.  

Start with your clean pumpkin.  Smear some tacky glue around the top and press on the moss.  Wait about a half hour until it dries a little.

In the meantime, unpot the succulents, remove dirt and roots,  and separate the succulents into pieces.

Start with the largest plants and begin gluing with hot glue from the center outward.  I let the hot glue cool slightly before placing the cutting on it.

Work your way around the pumpkin until the plants look balanced.  When you're happy with the arrangement, add in your decorations.  I like sparkles, so I found a pick of glittery fall leaves and took it apart to use the individual leaves which I tucked under the moss. 

Mist the succulents with water every day to keep the plants fresh.

  

It was a quick project, finished in about an hour and a half. 

I understand that the succulents begin to grow roots into the pumpkin as it softens.  Once the pumpkin begins to deteriorate, the top of the pumpkin along with the succulents can be cut off and planted in a container with potting soil and then transferred outside when the weather permits, so the succulents will continue to grow.

Here's the cost breakdown:

Pumpkin $3.99
9 succulents @ $3.74 each = $33.66
10 glue sticks $2.00
1/2 bag moss $1.50
Glittery leaf pick $3.78

Total Cost  $44.93  

Email me if you have any questions.  Enjoy!