November 10, 2025
gem
farm, fire, garden
garden, solstice fire, tree frog, treehouse, treehouse removal
The beautiful Fall weather had us prepping for winter on the little pretend farm.
Garden weeding and tilling

Solstice fire re-core (we cancelled the summer solstice fire this year and are going to light up in the winter…but a winter core needed to be inserted so the fire burns hotter and longer).

Finally, the ancient and somewhat dangerous swing set was deleted.

This tree frog was supervising.

October 16, 2025
gem
cooking, food, garden
first frost, garden, green tomato, peppers, summer squash
We went out just before the FIRST frost warning of 2025 to see what might be left in the garden. A volunteer summer squash?!


But that’s not all. We pulled the peppers and tomatoes.


OK then, squash for dinner.

And fried green tomato for dessert (with spice from Africa).



October 15, 2025
gem
animals, dogs, farm, garden
death, dog, garden, groundhog, moonshine

I mean the poor innocent groundhog was only sunning himself BY THE GARDEN. Good dog.
All groundhogs must die.

October 15, 2025
gem
cooking, farm, garden
garden, green salsa, tomatillo, tomatillos, vegetable
Batch 4 (or so) of the year. The tomatillas had very good production.



Who knows, we may squeeze out another batch before the garden winters.
October 15, 2025
gem
farm, garden
Brussels sprouts, carrots, garden, gardening, peppers, tomato, vegetables

Fresh peppers in late September. Peppers? Peppers!!

Did you see the September summer squash? A volunteer!

With an unwelcome visitor.

Two tiny carrots.

And the only Brussels sprouts that survived the flea beetles (no pesticide).

A reminder why growing a garden is a great idea.

September 18, 2025
gem
flowers, garden, travel
christian, garden, Jardim Botânico, monkies, São Paulo, Spring


The monkeys were making lots of noise.


But the Spring was pretty quiet.






I found my statue in São Paulo.





We saw capybaras…kinda


Special thanks to Christian for showing us around.
September 18, 2025
gem
cooking, food, garden
beans, garden, habañeros, hot sauce, jalapenos, vegetables
So many beans and so many peppers. But the last of the tomatillos.



Lets make salsa verde.


And then lets make habañero sauce for Eli.






Powerful enough to strip the pot.

We leave you with the pretty part of the garden.






August 21, 2025
gem
farm, food
farm, garden, iulie, vegetables
Oh man is the garden productive!







August 21, 2025
gem
cooking, farm
corn, garden, musk melon, vegetables
The highlight of the 2025 garden is lots of great musk melons. The corn is also solid this year.




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