Harvest, Hallowe'en and Photo drama

Goals were meant to be broken, right?  That's how that cliche goes, isn't it? No?  Well, it is now.

I haven't posted because I haven't been taking pictures!!!!  I hate posting pictures because it involves a bunch of wires and downloading and crap.  Tell me how to do this more easily and I'll do it more often!!!!  Damn it all to hell... I have a Kodak z712. I take pictures, then I have to plug in my camera into the computer. Then I have to go to the folder for the camera and move the photos into the blog folder on my computer. Then I have to resize all of the photos that I want to use because they're usually too big. First world problems make my head hurt....

Anyway, I have been harvesting a crapload of tomatoes.  They are just loving this season.  In the past, I've gotten one or two, here and there.  This year I'm getting what works out to about a tomato a day.  It's awesome and they're gorgeous. They taste all fresh and tomato-ey.  Yum.  Mostly I've been eating them with cheese I got from Cowgirl Creamery in Petaluma.

On the subject of strawberries, I give up.  I have two raised beds full of strawberry plants and I think I've gotten 2 whole berries this year.  If I'm going to spend that much square footage on something, it better be something that's producing produce!  I am merciless.  The strawberries are history.

Hallowe'en is officially on the agenda.  I'm working out the sketches on the front and back yards.

I know people who know people.  If you're one of those people, I'm looking for a few things that I will need and if you know a source for borrowed (B), super cheap (SC), F-R-E-E (F), or bulk (K) let me know.  I need:

1. 10 or more wrought iron shepherd's hooks (B, SC, F, K)
2. 2 trash-worthy 5-drawer filing cabinets (5 feet tall or taller) (F, SC)
3. Pink extruded foam in sheets or blocks (where do I get this?  I can only find the white insulation which I've used for years in lieu of the stuff I really want!) (SC)
4. Fire-pit (B, SC, F)
5. LED lanterns - these will likely be painted or otherwise messed with so I don't want to borrow (SC, F, K)
6. A very large stone garden angel or two. Not necessary to match - also will likely be painted or messed with (SC, F)
7. Fabric - cheese cloth, ivory muslin, plain grey, white or black cotton or muslin, tulle (SC, F)

So if you're someone, or if you know someone or you know someone who knows someone, let me know.  It's going to be an epic Hallowe'en. EPIC.

Goals, objectives and other list making

As far as I'm concerned, the biggest deficit of this blog is the distinct lack of photos.  I'm terrible at taking them, I'm terrible at uploading them, I'm terrible at posting them.  My goal for July, however, is to post at least one photo with every post regardless of how bad or blurry it is.

I may not succeed 100% but I am going to do my best.

Goals are a theme with me lately. I'm a list person - I have a to do list, a bucket list, a goals list for 2011 and under the 2011 list is a list of little things I will do in the next couple of days to move toward those goals.  It helps keep me on track. Sometimes I still get off track. Wev.

With all those lists, as I was explaining to the Mr. this week, my plate is pretty full until October.  You know, it's only 121 days until Hallowe'en, (you didn't?) which is pretty much the high holiday of my year. In July, I am off to Utah for 4 days, home for a week and a half and then off to Napa for another 4 days. I'll be pretty busy in the interim working on getting my labels made for my jams and all that jazz. Tonight is the Pickle Pop Up in Atwater Village and I have some very cute homemade labels for tonight, but if I plan to be in stores, homemade labels aren't going to cut it.

August, September and October are all about prop making and prepping for the Hallowe'en party of the century. Then, in November, the farm work truly begins.

Here's another list: Sprinklers go in first, the chicken coop gets built and the back 40 gets finished out with raised beds and trees all in time for a gorgeous Southern California winter!