Shopping from the garden.

It is that time of year that a large part of our meals come from our backyard.

Layne in his favorite hide-out, behind the tomatoes.

All of that goat manure that Layne & Todd hauled last fall...five truck loads...from our friend's goat farm (Thank you Baker family!) sure payed off.  Those tomato plants are tall.

The boys, this past weekend, bringing up the potatoes.

This years varieties:  Red Pontiac & Cobbler

Looks like this cucumber evaded two or three pickings.

(nice pose Mitch)

My canning list is getting a few things checked off.  Still, lots of work to be done.

freezer jam - raspberry

freezer jam - black berry

sweet cucumber relish

pickled beets

beans

peaches

salsa

pasta sauce

stewed tomatoes

diced tomatoes

sweet & sour sauce

pears

cherries

frozen corn

grape juice

We had some corn for lunch yesterday, and it was yummy.  So I think that will be the next item to cross off the list.  I love restocking our bottles and freezer.  It looks so pretty and makes me so happy.

A few more weeks and the acorn squash will be ready and I'm still waiting to let you know how the sweet potato project turned out for us. 

Now Layne is getting ready to get his 'fall garden' planted.  I'm so thankful he loves to garden.

The other big project for the summer was getting some pasture fenced in.

It was A LOT of work.  Layne and Todd worked (and sweated) their tail-ends off.

It didn't help that this is one of the hottest summers we've had in nearly 10 years. 

We took out lots of cold water and they came in for breaks in the AC. 

Justin & Mitch even chipped in when they could.

Getting the post holes cleaned out.

I'm not sure if they are all working or all watching.

For those that have been trying to visualize this project:

Looking South (toward the tree swing)

Looking North

Looking North-East

Having the fence up has really changed how the property looks.

I love it.

Layne, you rock!