About those loofahs

 The Sasquatch started some loofah seeds inside in the spring and we planted the seedlings by my screen porch.

Since loofah vines are climbers, the Sasquatch tied some mesh netting up to the top porch rail and staked it near the base of the plants.

We waited and watched for the vines to start climbing but they were taking some time to settle in.

Once the growth started, the vines practically raced up the netting.

Here is a photo from August. Pretty yellow blooms but fruits were just beginning to form.

This picture is from an upstairs window in September.

Long vines!

This was the first time we have grown loofahs but from what the Sasquatch read online...they should be picked before the first frost.

So here is the harvest. Ideally, they should have started browning a bit on the vine but I guess these had a bit of a late start in growing.

Still, we were both surprised at how large some grew!

The Sasquatch took care of the task of peeling, de-seeding and rinsing the sponges.

This is the final result.

Some of the smaller loofahs were a bit soft but those will be fine for using as body sponges.  The stiffer thicker ones can be used as dish scrubbers.

The loofahs were fun to grow. Not bothered by any pests.

The Sasquatch saved seeds for next year's crop.

Not very fun

 A couple of friends from the asked me if I'd like to join them in signing up for a season pass for matinee performances of the Louisville Orchestra.

It seemed like something fun and different so I told them yes, I would join them.

At the first performance, I got the feeling I had made a mistake. It started with the car ride. One of the other ladies drove and although she seemed to be a good and confident driver, it made me nervous and anxious.

Plus, I was in the back seat and it was an effort to join in their conversation because of my lousy hearing and the hum of the engine.

When we got there, I was shocked to learn it cost $15 to park!  My other friend paid it that time and we established we two would alternate paying parking.

So, the next time it was my turn to pay. The garage attendants could not accept a $100 bill.

Really?  I handed over my credit card...and that bugged me for safety reasons.

This second performance was more fun that the first. The orchestra performed as an old silent movie, Nosferatu, played...special for Halloween.

So besides the parking cost, it ruffles my feathers that even though everyone must pass through metal detectors...they ask random ladies to open up their purses so they can look inside.  I felt like storming out of there after that!

We had good seats. Mid-way up and in the center. The musicians are talented and it is pleasant to see the variety of gleaming instruments.

But, I was basically just enduring rather than enjoying. "When can we leave?, lol".

I have to say this bit of culture is wasted on me.

One other thing that bugs me about these concerts and many other live performances...the audience is repeatedly expected to applaud during the show.

Can't we just save it until the end?  Unless maybe something is extra amazing.

Maybe my bad hearing affects how music sounds to me? Maybe I'm not hearing the full range of things, making it less pleasing.

There are 3 more performances in this series. I am trying to think of ways to explain my way out of them.  The truth is always best.

Fall color

 This is a year that the fall colors are really outstanding. So many lovely shades.

The warm colors are my favorites but they are at their best displayed in nature.

I was taking a photo of these red berries, then I looked closer...

A perfect little nest remaining.

These trees are all maples, in and around my property.

This is sumac, I think.

Puss gets a nice view with this window seat...

Colorful weeds and grasses in the field next door.

So pretty! Wish these fall colors could last a bit longer!

I brought a few leaves inside to display with my Halloween decorations.

Getting dark earlier too, though, as the season changes.

Odds and ends

 I have an indoor plant blooming...the Aloe Vera.   It sent up a long stalk over the past few weeks and now the blooms have opened.  Hard to get a good photo...

Here is a close up, little pink trumpet shaped blooms.

This was unusual...five of these planes flying over in a line one afternoon. I couldn't get my camera working fast enough but you can just barely see the first ones off in the distance.

And notice the field next to my house. Earlier this year they had cut and cleared it.

I was worried about what might be built there, but so far, nothing.

It's quickly growing and filling in. I have to say I enjoy having that view.

I made soup...cabbage, ham, and lima bean.

The Sasquatch came over to help test out my new meat grinder.

He uses a grinder attachment for his KitchenAid mixer and makes sausage, so he had some good tips on what works best.

He slices and freezes his roasts to help them feed through the grinder more smoothly.

It's a bit of extra trouble but good to see what goes into your sausage.

The Sasquatch has made loose sausage but has also bought intestines to make sausage links. Both are very tasty!

Dirt grading finished

 I was beginning to think the dirt moving man was never coming back to finish leveling out the ground after the new garage was completed.

I called him a couple of times to remind him. The second time, I asked him about spreading more gravel on the other driveway while he's here. 

He agreed to that and told me to order a load of "dense grade aggregate"

So I called "Quality Stone" and they very patiently helped me place my order. They said the truck would hold 24 tons!

  I thought that would be a massive amount of gravel. I wondered where it could all be dumped.  Well, no worries...it's not that much.

Delivered the same day I ordered, too.

So, in a few days, the dirt moving man showed up with his dirt mover and smoothed the driveway out a bit then began spreading the new gravel.

I was surprised how much coverage he got from that amount of gravel.

He worked carefully and quickly.

He then leveled and contoured the dirt around the new garage, leaving low areas for drainage.

Nice work!

I decided not to bring gravel all the way to the garage for now...since it's mostly for storage.  I can always have it done later if needed.

I wish it was earlier in the year so I could have put down some grass seed. But it's a long way from the water hose so I wouldn't be able to water, anyway.

I'll wait for nice rainy spring to spread the seed.

In the weeks before the dirt man returned, a  wild bumper crop of Datura, or Jimsom weed, grew.  I think the seeds were unearthed and spread when he first leveled the area for building.

These photos are from July.  Pretty plants but poisonous. Some purple color on the stalks and pretty blooms open in the evening and are visited by nocturnal moths.

The dirt pile pushed aside for finish grading was covered in the plants.

This photo is from August. The big seed pods are developing.

Later they turn brown and split open...releasing many dozens of seeds.

Fast growing plants. I'm sure there will be even more springing out of the ground next summer.

Free...or is it?

 I was excited to receive an invitation for the Amazon Vine program.

If you haven't heard of it - it's a program where one can pick out free stuff from special pages on the website.

In exchange, they expect honest and helpful reviews of the items. The invitations are only issued to those who have written helpful reviews on past purchases.

There is a wide range of things on the list of choices...some good quality and useful things, some parts for machinery or electronics, decorative items, party supplies, pet supplies, clothing, and much, much more.

It's difficult not to get carried away choosing items!

It would have been so much fun getting free things earlier in my life...when I needed more things and couldn't afford much. Now, I am a point in life when I'm leaning more toward getting rid of stuff.

The fun part of ordering these items is affected by the fact that Amazon keeps a record of the dollar value of things you get for free...which gets turned in to the IRS. So, that spoils things a little. Taxes will have to be paid the same as if it were income.

Another negative aspect is accumulating stacks of empty boxes...quickly!

I have a special place in my heart for empty boxes and it's hard to throw them away.

Oh, problems, problems.

In other news...the craft class at the library this month was little refrigerator magnets.

We cut out cardboard circles with words or pictures and attached them to clear magnets.

I made two Santa's sleigh ones and two others.  Simple and fun.

Here's a photo I forgot to show earlier.  This turtle was crawling across the yard on October 3rd.  I was surprised to see him so late in the year.

He'd better be finding a warm spot before cold weather!

New stove

 My stove (range) was getting unreliable. The burners worked fine but the oven temperature seemed to fluctuate during baking...mostly overheating to burn things to a crisp in a short time.

I've had the stove since 2008. I guess that's getting to be an old age for a stove.

I'd been planning to switch to a gas stove when this one needed to be replaced but that would mean some gas line work in the basement. With that and also hearing lately that gas stoves release a bit of carbon monoxide in the home, I decided to stick with electric.

Here is the beautiful new GE double oven range...with convection and an air fry setting.

I actually just picked it out online without actually seeing it in person. I knew I wanted the double ovens so that narrowed down my choices.

I ordered this one from Costco. Free delivery, cord is included in the price and they'll haul away the old appliance.

They delivered on time...polite uniformed delivery men.

I had to cook a few things to test it out.  Chicken, bean, and tomatoes soup.

Parmesan crusted chicken strips.

A mixed veggie with cheese casserole.

Then another day, ham, broccoli, and cauliflower soup.

Everything seems fine with the new stove.

This one should last a long time. I don't cook as much as I used to.

My fridge and dishwasher are actually a bit older than my old stove was. Maybe I should be researching models and prices for when one of those two kick the bucket.