While I was away at knitting. . .

Dave and Mike played lumberjack. They cut down four diseased trees. This has been in the works for the last two years or so, but it is not a task for the faint at heart. Steel cables, thoughtfully planned geometry and new chainsaws had to all be employed and I was glad not to have been a witness. I made Dave promise not to kill or maim himself or anyone else during this process.

The trees were all rotten at the base, even though they  had a full head of leaves on top, we felt there would be nothing but trouble ahead. Each storm made us even more certain that one or more of them would topple either into the pond, the driveway and electric lines or into our porch, perhaps our roof! But getting them down was going to require careful logistics and so the men talked and talked and talked and finally the auspicious day came.
What a relief that it all took place without incident. Now we will be listening to chain saws cutting the logs into Mike's  firewood for many winters to come.

On the garden front, my two veggie beds have been invaded by yet another kind of beetle, which is destroying my squash plants and leaving me with dead vines and half developed fruit. But the cucumber in the purple pot is going gangbusters after a dose of Miracle Grow. And the long awaited cherry tomato is ready for tasting. I hope they are sweet.

Little did I know that my neighbor across the road would visit and drop off all these squash. And there were more in the refrigerator, from Mike's garden. I am up to my ears in yellow squash.  

She also brought tomatoes (Hurray!!!!) and cucumbers, and onions.

These are all so beautiful. The other side of the road is much sunnier than our lot, and their gardens produce so much more. This gifted produce will definitely affect what I grow next year.