The End of Summer

You know summer is coming to an end when the squash reach gargantuan proportions.

We've had our fill of squash, of picking squash, of tending the garden.

Our lack of interest results in overgrown, completely inedible vegetables

left to rot and replenish the earth for next year's garden.

The weeds have more than taken over and we are forced to dig deep

for the few remaining cucumbers and tomatoes that are of normal, edible sizes.

I can feel the change in the air that signals Fall.

Living in Northern California, we don't really have true seasons.

We have a much milder transition from Summer to Fall, but it is definitely still a change.

Most notably, the days have gotten shorter, and the evenings are starting to cool off.

It is a little depressing to me.  I really enjoy warmer weather.

I was thinking about all the projects I started for myself at the beginning of Summer.

Nothing really huge, just little projects here and there.

There were the peppers and herbs I planted.

I'm proud to say that all of the herb plants survived.

I had an abundance of fresh herbs that I actually did use in my cooking.

You can't beat the convenience of having them right outside your door.

I will definitely be planting more herbs next year.

The peppers mostly survived, well half survived.

We started with twelve plants.

Three were eaten from below by gophers.

Another three were devoured by deer.

Well, at least the leaves were devoured by deer.

The deer were kind enough to leave the barren stalks and a few stray peppers behind.

Remember my weeding project?

I boldly proclaimed to the world my love for pulling weeds.

I also proclaimed that I would announce the completion of my weeding project.

Except, that never happened.

I think I had experienced a little too much fresh Spring air to think clearly that week.

My sore muscles quickly got the better of me and I jumped ship with only a few feet left to clear.

Well, it might have been more like five or six feet, but who's counting.

It bothered me every time I walked by it this Summer.

Bothered me just enough to be annoying,

but not enough to motivate me to finish.

Finally, there was the chair project this summer.

A project that I was so certain would never be completed,

that I didn't even feel the need to blog about it ahead of time.

However, now that it has reached completion, I feel it is safe to share it with you now.

We got this chair from Ryan's Grandma.  Nothing special, just an old-style lounge chair.

Except they just don't make chairs like this anymore.

It has grooves where there would probably be screws now,

and the metal springs are extra bouncy.

We sanded it down, painted it, and got a new (hand-me-down) cushion from my Grandma.

Ta Da!

My finished project.

Although, if I were really telling the true story, here's how it would go:

I started sanding it.

Ryan finished.

I started painting it.

Ryan finished the second coat.

I took the pieces apart to do a really good job painting and sanding.

Ryan put them back together.

I think you get the idea.

Ryan even put new wheels on it for me.

Oh, how I envisioned myself lounging here in the shade of my front yard,

enjoying a cold drink and a good book.

Except, then, my baby started walking, and climbing, and eating random objects found on the ground.

So the chair ended up being a landing pad for all the things I needed to set down in a hurry.

Now that Summer is coming to a close, this good ole' chair is going to go stay in the shop for the Winter.

I can't handle all my hard work just sitting out in the rain.

Goodbye Summer.  I'll enjoy the few days we have left together.

I'll be looking forward to you again next year,

when I'll have more projects to start, and hopefully,

if the stars align correctly,

a few projects to finish as well.