Late Bloomers

We are having another cloudy, cool morning.  It is supposed to rain later but not much promised.
We really don't need it.

I took advantage of the cloudiness to take a short tour of the east yard to take pictures of a few things in bloom.  Some are looking the worse for wear. I leave the zinnias and salvias for seeds.  I have my best zinnias in years all from self-seeded zinnias from last year. 

The blue are the salvia farinacea which are almost perennials here.  Note the bright colors are the self-seeded zinnias.  I left the dead peach tree for a hanger for bird feeders.  I will have to take it down before too long.

This his spotlighting anemone rosbustissima.  It is a great filler and fall bloomer.  I started with three plants and it has spread nicely.  I saw a hummer visiting this morning.

Another view of the anemone.  I like how it is taller  than surrounding greenery. 

I took this on a sunny day because the blue of the Black and Blue Salvia was just beautiful next to the green leaves.  This one is supposed to be iffy in my zone but had done extremely well here.

Max mowed for me yesterday.   I took a very had fall doing a very foolish thing.  I wanted to measure  the new bed (from MIL) for slats and was trying to prop the mattress against the wall. I had to step inside the bed frame to do it.  That went fine; then I stepped out and snagged my left foot on the bed rail and fell flat on the floor on my left side.  I did this yesterday morning....now have bruises you wouldn 't believe and can't
 lift my left arm without assistance....I am left handed.  All is well; nothing broken but I will be several days getting back to normal.  DH was not happy with me for doing something so foolish. I am frustrated by not being able to do things that I have always done before.  I have learned my lesson!

He has more mowing to do today.  I hope I can pick my hoophouse pole beans using my right arm.  I hate to let them go....

Sweet Potato Harvest

Good Friday morning.  It is a cool damp one here on the farm.  It rained some during the night but not much.  It is supposed to get to 80° today but if it stays cloudy that won't happen.

Good news is I finally got the kitchen finished and it almost  did me in!  I took a couple of days off....I am way out of shape for painting and climbing ladders!  But I got it done and am very pleased.

I have delayed digging sweet potatoes and then seeing the grub damage on Ilene's harvest decided I better get Max and get busy.  He  hooked up the cart and took to the garden.  I began cutting tops and digging.  It have never had such lush vines and I had clipped them several times during the season.  I guess our fairly heavy and timely rains caused this growth.  Things were going well and I was very pleased with the harvest.....about the only thing that has done well in the garden this year.  These are Beauregards.  About all you can find anymore.  I like them very much.

I want to weigh the crop  because at current price of .99/lb I suspect they paid for the entire garden venture this year.

I ruined the whole experience by taking a very hard fall just before finishing.  My feet got tangled in the blasted vines and sweet potato vines do not break easily, but I do fall easily.  I hit the bridge of my nose, actually my glasses hit my nose, against the hard handle of the loppers....I was stunned  for a second but managed to crawl to the low limbs of the apple tree and pull myself up.  I knew Max couldn't do it alone and I needed something that didn't move at all.  Blood dripped off the end of my nose, but I dug three more hills  before  quitting.  I am fine except I look like I have been in a prize fight.  May even get black eyes.

Part of the issue is the chronic dizziness so when I begin to pitch forward, there is no catching myself or stabilizing, I fall!  period!  So far no serious damage from the falls. 

I am hoping all my friends along the east coast are safe from the hurricane!

Have a wonderful weekend.