Harvesting and Volunteering

    I have been absent from blogging for the past week as I was volunteering at our local tennis tournament. It was a 1000 level ATP event so was well attended by players and fans so it was a busy week. After the final yesterday the volunteers were treated to a party with lots of good food, drink and prizes, and I received the MVP award for my committee (mainly because it was my 18th year as a volunteer!)

While away all week my garden has continued to flourish so I did a massive cull of all the ripe tomatoes and zucchinis today. Tomorrow I will need to blanch, peel and chop the tomatoes for the freezer as there are more almost ready to pick. The zucchinis will probably be eaten right away.

First Red Pepper

 ......and it's a beauty! There's another slightly smaller one that's still quite green. I think that might be it for this plant.

A Close Encounter

    Came face to face with this interloper today as he dipped his paws into my pool and had a drink. 

     He wasn't fazed by my appearance and just ignored me as I yelled at him. Don't want him to get the idea he's welcome in my back yard! I returned with a broom and finally managed to persuade him to leave although I've no doubt he'll be back. Raccoons are usually nocturnal but often leave evidence (rather disgusting) that they have been there. 

 

   This is how he found his way into my back yard. Normally called the "squirrel highway" as they chase each other from yard to yard, it may have to be renamed!

Will They Ever Ripen?

    Loads of tomatoes, cherry, grape and full size but they have been at this stage for a couple of weeks now. I am hoping to be able to eat some next week if only they can hurry up and turn red!

   The following week I will be away most days, volunteering at the tennis tournament, so won't be eating at home. Sod's Law that is when they will all ripen!

I should at least be able to use up most off this plant as they seem to be close to being ready.

   Finished another puzzle yesterday while a storm blew through. It's been on the go for almost a month but was proving quite a challenge. However, I like a challenge and kept plugging away at it. It's borrowed from a friend and she forgot to mention how tricky it was, some very odd shaped pieces!