Happy Thanksgiving, y'all : 11 '19

Wishing y'all "Happy Thanksgiving"

From: Bruce, CC, and "Sammy"

Winter Garden is in: 11" 19

 I finally got most of our winter vegetables planted this morning .

It has been so close to freezing  at night that I was reluctant to set them out. They  have been sitting in starter  pots in my Carolina room waiting patiently for the evening temperatures to be forecast-ed stay warm long enough for their roots to have time to settle in.

In the pots lining the front entry I've planted sorrel, 3 different kinds of kale, parsley, 2 kinds of mustard, and onions and garlic.  I am growing other winter root vegetables which I will plant in this area as soon as their roots a bit stronger.  Cheerful ( and edible) Pansies and Johnnie Jump-Up Violas will soon fill in the blank spots between greens

On either side of the back porch, we have a large selection of potted herbs, along with  kales, cabbage, bok choi, mustards, and  swiss chard.  As in the front yard, pansies and violas are planted in the bare areas of soil between the greens.

  I also have left one pot empty for a few of the other cold hearty root vegetables that aren't quite large enough to set out. We don't have room to grow a large crop of  root vegetables like beets, turnips, radish carrots and parsnip, but we always grow one or two of each for their leafy greens. In addition to the nutrition they provide, their fresh leaves often bring some welcome reds and purples to the potted garden during the bleak winter months.

Low Country Fall Color then and now: 11 '19

Willbrook Plantation Cypress 11 / 2019

I was looking at this photo, I took yesterday of the fall foliage colored cypress trees at Willbrook Plantation (see first attached photo. It reminds me of one of the first oil paintings I painted shortly after we moved here in 2006 (See 2nd attached photo). It was of cypress trees growing at the edge of one of Pawleys Plantation's ponds. I guess my aesthetic interests haven't changed all that much in 13 years.

Pawleys Plantation Cypress 2006

Nine Holes at Willbrook Plantation: 11 '19

 Bruce and I had a great time today playing a round of nine holes at Willbrook Plantation.

Its one of our favorite courses,  with lots of 

water hazards

and sand traps everywhere.

There's also a lot of wildlife
hiding in plain sight

like this little garter snake  we found sunning itself on the fairway

or this very large alligator pretending to be a log at the edge of a water hazard.

Today was especially fun .
Not only was the weather was near perfect
but the fall color was at it's peak.

Everywhere we looked was a a picture perfect scene just waiting to be photographed.

Bruce was able to maintain his focus on the game amidst all this beauty,
while I ( CC) completely lost it.

And spent most of my time  taking pictures.
Either way, we both really enjoyed the morning.

Pumpkin Patch: 11 ' 19

Last week ( Nov. 4) , I made mention of moving Scarecrows from the back yard to the front.   To clarify, I've  stored away the Halloween ghosts (see Oct. 10 post for photo of the Halloween Pumpkin Patch)   but kept all the other scarecrows that were in the pumpkin patch garden I put up in the at the beginning of September.

I've  also moved some of the small pepper plants into this garden in hopes that they will reseed themselves next year ( and maybe keep some of the raccoons away from the bird feeders).

I am not certain how much longer we'll keep these scarecrows on display, but they'll  certainly remain here until after the Thanksgiving holiday is over.

Harvest Time: 11 '19

We are supposed to get some overnight freezes beginning tomorrow.  Yesterday I moved all of the tender tropical plants into the Carolina room,  and  began  harvesting what remains of out summer edible crops.  The house smells so good from all of the   Greek and Asian Basil that I cut cleaned and preserved. Then this morning I pulled and strung the last of our chili peppers.   They're such a cheery reminder of warmer days. 

Thanksgiving Turkey Project Complete: 11 '19

It took me an entire day to get all the parts and pieces painted (the feathers were especially time consuming) and then it took Bruce another day to get everything assembled,  but I think he really came out sweet.

We've named him "Samoset Abenaki Sagamore " after the first native American Indian to make contact with the pilgrims of Plymouth Colony.

More Thanksgiving Yard Art: 11' 19

While Bruce is working on his Thanksgiving Turkey, I have repainted some of the Plastic Halloween Jack-o-lanterns with colorful fall colors and use them as pots for some Mums and dried grasses. 

Then, just to add a bit more whimsey,  

I moved a couple of my scarecrows from the back yard to the front,

and added some  signage to the front porch

and 

to the front door.

Now the front yard is starting to show some holiday spirit again.

How did I wind up in a Pumpkin Patch? 11 '19

Bruce was taking a nap on the couch today when I began stashing all of our exterior Halloween decorations together in the living room.  I wanted to collect everything in one place, prior to giving them a good cleaning, and packing them away in the attic for another year..He woke woke up wondering why he was in the middle of an indoor pumpkin patch.

Thanksgiving Project Underway: 11 '19

Yesterday, (the day after Halloween), I dis-assembled and packed away all of the Halloween decorations.  Bruce says he feels sad looking at our neat and tidy front yard, and that he misses the playful ghosts and party atmosphere that all the Halloween decorations had added. 

Unfortunately there really isn't a much by way of affordable Thanksgiving -theme yard art available. To compensate Bruce has decided to try his hand at wood-working by making a Thanksgiving turkey for the front yard. 

I (CC) came up with some concept sketches, then once Bruce had selected the design, I created a full scale cardboard template of all the pieces.  Bruce  salvaged some scrap  plywood for the body parts, and  we went to Home Depot to pick up some thin pre-cut fence pickets to use for the tail feathers. 

Trying to cut, sand, and paint in our crowded single car garage is a royal pain in the arse, but so far so good.  Once the pieces were cut and smoothed to his satisfaction he turned them over to me to prime  with white house paint/primer.  As soon as the primer is dry,  I will paint the pieces with colorful acrylics and seal them with a coat of varathane,  then turn them back over to Bruce to assemble.