Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Fall is here....

Fall is here! And not a minute too soon.  The garden is winding down, the pumpkins and squash have been plucked out from under the nose of daredevil squirrels who brave our backyard despite out very own guard animals.
Ferocious Oddie




And the vicious Casey Caso




The only tomatoes left on the vine are mealy or still green,  Today I cleared out a raised bed and put on a cover crop of clover down, something I plan on doing every year but never seem to get around to.
The bees have decreased there number to prepare for winter,  I am concerned about the amount of wasps I have flying around the ground in front of the hive and even occasionally entering.  They bees seem strong, but I can't imagine why they would allow a wasp in. I am VERY reluctant to kill them, I really believe there is a delicate balance that we should not disturb, and the wasps have been so good in the garden keeping out your everyday garden villains like slugs and squash borers.
I have posted on some bee forums to see if I can get any feedback,  I also snooped around the neighborhood to a home near by that has 3 langstroth hives. I noted many wasps patrolling the grounds around their hives too.  
On the knitting front, I am still spinning my beautiful fiber, slow and steady.
I have also finished a shrug





But the big news is I have started a new cardigan.  
Anastasia by Cecily MacDonald. I downloaded the pattern from Raverly today and have been knitting furiously since,



  




It is the most difficult but by far the most fun thing I have ever knitted.  I love the Madeline Tosh yarn.






Also my sweet hubby, after all these years decided he wanted to learn to knit!  YEAH.


4 comments:

  1. I found my way to your blog from the Lazy Homesteader's summary of the Homestead tour, and I'm so glad to have found it! I was on that tour and your chicken coop/garden was my favorite! I also had a sneaking suspicion that you knit the charming cardigan you'd been wearing since I'm a knitter as well. :) Again, thank you very much for opening your home to us and I MAY have some questions for you over the next few months as my husband and I attempt to incorporate chickens into our lives. ~ Jen

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    1. Thank you, I wish I had more time to knit and garden, but real world stuff keeps getting in the way. I went to your log, love your lace knitting, just beautiful. Please feel free to contact me anytime if you questions I can answer.
      Thanks,
      Diane

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  2. I love your blog and I'm really enjoying reading about your garden and bees. Did you ever find out why the wasps were hanging around the bees?

    P.S. I found you through The Lazy Homesteader. :)

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    1. I never got rid of them and they won't into winter as a very small cluster and they didn't make it. I was so saddened. They had lots and lots of honey, but were clustered in the front of the hive in the brood combs. They didn't have mites so I am not sure. I think they might have been caught off guard by a cold snap. Thank you for your comments. I just read your blog, I am inspired to clean out my basement now!
      Thanks,
      Diane

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