I’ve had a great week at the Folk School and really enjoyed visiting with people and sharing the goodness that can be found in the mountains of Appalachia.
One day I had the opportunity to walk around the Folk School garden. Every thing looks good including the things that have been planted for fall.
I noticed the beauty of the long row of zinnias or old maids right away. Much longer and thicker than the ones I planted with abandon this summer.
The ones in the middle of the row are still blooming but all along the edges the flowers are beginning to die back as fall of the year approaches.
One area of the garden still has squash hanging from a cattle panel arch as well as other growing things. There’s an area of high grass there too. Within that tall grass I heard the first little cricket sounds I’ve heard this month which are a true sign of fall of the year.
Soon the crickets will be chirping all along the back edge of our house and gardens. The chorus will sing all throughout the day even as the sun reminds me warm weather isn’t gone yet. But the sound of crickets is a sure sign fall weather is on its way.
Last night’s video: First Mess of Okra & the Best Eating of the Year.
Tipper
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Although I’m so close to the folk school, I had a medical issue and didn’t get to attend.
Friday was my 79th birthday and my son came to visit. He drove me to the folk school and we enjoyed looking around the various buildings, which he had never seen before.
He does go to the Punkin’ Chunkin’ in Brasstown every year, though. I showed him where the race track is, too. His dad used to go to some races with his friends.
I’m so sorry I didn’t get to meet you, but I hope to one day.
Jan, I’m sorry you weren’t feeling good. Hope you are better now and I’m glad you got to see the folk school 🙂
The high is only 66 on Sunday with the lows in the 40s for three nights. You can just see the leaves on the trees starting to turn here in Weatern WI. The plants are starting to die back some and you can really sense fall is coming. We were splitting and stacking
wood on Sunday. Should be a wonderful day for it with the lower temps. Before we know it, we will be cozied up around the woodstove.
Glad all things went well at the Folk School this week. I’ve heard crickets already, but never knew they were one of the first signs of fall.
I’m so looking forward to fall. I live in Las Vegas and it is so hot. Enjoy looking at your beautiful landscape because Las Vegas has none of this. It’s the Desert.❤️
It was really great meeting you, Matt, Katie, and Ira last night. In my travels over the years across this beautiful country I have been blessed to have met many people who were well known (US Senators, Governors, State Representatives, and entertainers but I want to say meeting you topped them all. You and your family are all sweet (yes even Matt), down to earth, and people you would want as neighbors. I want to thank you for signing my wife’s cook book (actually yours) and spending time with us. Your husband Matt is a good honest man. And your daughter and grandson were so sweet. I spent some time with my friend Pastor Gerald of the Shady Grove Baptist Church to catch up on how his family is doing. We pray for each other. Again thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Glad the folk school presentations went well. I wanted to drive over on Thursday but couldn’t make it! Here in Clinton summer is definitely still around with high temps and humidity…cooler in the evenings makes good back porch sitting to hear the crickets!!!
Matt is such a joy to watch…personality and common sense goes a long way!
Everyone have a great afternoon! Blessings to all.
That supper sure looked good last night!I miss my mommas cooking but now I have to cook it for my family!God bless you all!
After the cool fall like weather at the first of the month, it has turned back to more summer like weather with a day here and there having temperatures in the mid to upper 80’s, but nothing like the heat of July. More of a problem over the last few days has been the very high humidity, when stepping outside feels like being in an oven. Between my yard and the yards of three other family members, I cut between about 6 acres of grass. I now have to ride, while my son does the trimming I have not already done with weed killer, I am no longer physically able to do the trim work. I do not get paid for doing any of this. I just do it because of it being family. It is my way of helping them. My mother and father in law would offer me pay and I would tell them you paid me in advance with all of those Sunday dinners that I ate with you over the years. If I was working and couldn’t be there, she would fix me a plate and have my wife bring it to me to have when I got home. I wrote about cutting grass to say this “ one of the first signs of fall for me is when I see the crabgrass beginning to change,” I keep telling myself 4 more weeks and it will be fall, at least by the calendar. October can’t get here fast enough or stay long enough for me. Tipper, I am glad you had a good week. Coming to see you would have been something I would have enjoyed doing with my wife if she was still living. I seldom go farther than a grocery store anymore(15miles one way.)
There are many signs of fall here in my part of West Virginia. Our oak trees are loaded with acorns that are falling already…providing the deer with dinner every night. It’s a little cooler, especially in the mornings. The leaves are already beginning to change. My granddaughter found a yellow cherry tree leaf that had blown in our front yard yesterday…And I have heard crickets too.
Oh I am so happy when summer arrives and not too happy to feel the cold wind of winter approaching. Summer seems to just fly by and I do like what we used to call Indian Fall but it doesn’t stay warm like it used to when I was a child. I have been sick with walking pneumonia for the past two weeks. Thought I would cough my head off but I’m coming out of it now. Had to stay in for two weeks and take antibiotics but thank the good Lord I’m able to get out now. I haven’t had a cold in over 8 years. Usually, it goes into a sinus infection. I’ve enjoyed watching all your videos and the Pressley girls on my television.
I saw a cricket yesterday:)
How beautiful! It has been a little chilly here yesterday morning and this morning. Ialmost wanted a jacket. I don’t know if this cool spell will stay or if summer heat will come back, but I am going to enjoy the lower temperatures for certain. ❤️
Tipper, I just watched your video about supper with the first okra of the summer. My cousin taught me to stretch okra with a chopped onion. It’s delicious. I always add onion now.
I LOVE THAT FALL , WITH COOLER NIGHTS AND SLEEPING WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN, AND FEWER BUGS!!
Have you remembered to count the fogs this year?
Leslie, we’ve had fog most mornings this month so maybe I’ll get at least one snow 🙂
That’s great! None down here so far.
Good Morning BP&A. Glad you had a good week, wish I could have been there.
My garden is winding down, just tomatoes, peppers, okra and peanuts left.
My beans didn’t do well this year, I had a soil test done this week, NEMATODES. I’m not sure what I’m gonna do about it. The ag agent suggested gasing it but I have no way of doing that. The only other option is to move my garden but I’m very limited in that. If anyone has any suggestions I’m open to try.
I am sorry for your troubles. I have nematodes also. There are nematode-resistant varieties of quite a few garden crops. Clemson has produced a bulletin about nematodes resistant vegetable plants. I think if you just searched for “nematode resistant vegetable plants” you will find several sources to check. The trick may be to find those plants or seeds. I do not think there are any resistant green beans though.
Thanks Ron, I’ll research it
Ron, I have read an article from hoss tool that was on their website. You may have to go to their website and search for nematodes. Their solution was to plant a heavy (thick) cover crop of Caliente Rojo Mustard. They claim there is an acid in mustard that will kill and help control nematodes. You might be able to use another variety of mustard.
Thanks Randy, I’ll look into it
We are up in Maine this week visiting our son who is stationed in Kittery Maine. We have been waking up to the mid fifties this week. The leaves have not started to change here but you can feel fall for sure.
Sunset is my favorite time of day, but it makes me sad this time of year; the days are noticably shorter. I saw a branch full of scarlet leaves on one of the trees in our backyard the other day. I do love fall, but I’m sad to see summer go.
The late summer heat and humidity wears on me more than it used to. I’m looking forward to the welcome coolness of Fall. Here on the Cumberland Plateau we’re seeing the early signs of the changing season. The White Oaks are showing a bumper crop of acorns. That brings joy to this old deer hunters heart.
The last few days here in Virginia have been lower in humidity and temps. The leaves are turning yellow on our weeping cherry tree and also on some of the other trees. You can definitely see and feel fall coming. I feel sad that summer is fading away. That means shorter days, decreased light, and I am one of those affected by light. In Ohio, you had about seven months of winter and decreased sun. I always dreaded winters there–long, cold and dark. Here you can get outside almost all year, and the sun shines a lot more. The dahlias have begun to fade but the Knockout Rose bushes continue to show their beautiful red roses.
Fall is my favorite season but here in Florida it is, for me, almost nonexistent. Yes, it gets cooler and the humidity is lower which pleasant but the leaves of the trees don’t die off until much later and the colors nowhere near the beautiful forests of the north.
There is a tree in the graveyard where my parents and brother are buried in Indiana that turns bright red in the fall. When I think of fall, I think of that tree. In this graveyard I will be buried someday unless the Lord comes and that makes me happy.
We have zinnias and butterflies and crickets as well. This morning about daylight the crickets were fiddling all over the front yard. I do not see that many when I am doing yard and garden work but we must have a lot. I like to see than around. I dug the red onions the other day and set them on the porch in a plastic flower pot with the bottom drain holes. My wife picked it up yesterday and she said about 4 crickets came out. I doubt they liked the onions, just think they liked the drain holes and the cover come daylight. I had never heard that the crickets singing was a sign of summer’s end but it is true.
I love the sound of crickets, which we get to enjoy summer and fall. Sometimes we get to hear them in the spring if they survive the winter around here. Night sounds are the best to fall asleep to, crickets, katydids, owls, and other creatures that I haven’t identified abound in our woods. Fall is coming and we’ve enjoyed the cooler weather here the last couple of days.
So happy you’ve had a good week at the folk school. I’m certainly looking forward to the cooler fall weather.