Dilemma

Early this week, the National Weather Service forecast put the rain chance at 20 percent on Friday and Friday night.
Unlike many such instances in the past, the chance has increased during the week (thank you, Isaac). Now it sits at 50 percent Friday, 60 percent Friday night and 60 percent on Saturday. Rain gear will be necessary for camping.
My dilemma? Do I do the planned watering today (which includes cabbages, etc. just planted last week) or trust that sufficient rain will fall over the next two days, when I won't be able to water?
I certainly have more than enough tasks to fill my day without the watering chore.
What would you do?

Rain on the Watermelon

Saturday morning I took a walk in the rain.

In my own garden.
Rain.

After three days of light rains, we measured 1.25 inches. It did not fill the cracks in the ground, but it puddled on the stones, and dripped from the cedar trees, beaded on the watermelons.
Now everything is green again.

The sky has cleared and no rain is in the forecast. But I have faith again. And 2,200 gallons in the rain tanks. Rain.

Rain.

It is not yet September, and the world is beginning to show its autumn colors.

Some of the blueberry leaves are turning.

Shades of yellow highlight the woods.

Poison ivy adds a scarlet flame to the woods' edges.

The fall garden has been planted. Cauliflower, broccoli, kale, lettuce, cabbage.

Later, when the moon is waning, I will plant carrots, radishes, daikon.
Faith is the thing driving me now. Faith and a little rain.
Large cracks still wound the earth -- an inch of rain is not enough to repair the damage done by this hot drought.
But a little rain has softened the edges. And I believe again.

Hail, Yes!

Hail, and Rain!

A little more than half an inch. A lovely, lovely storm. And possibly more to come.

Still Hoping...

Gifts of the land.

I took a deep breath and put the baby brussels sprouts in the ground today. As I planted a gray cloud covered the entire sky, keeping the temperature in the 80s all morning. Even though no rain fell, it was a blessing. The little brussels sprouts did not get scorched on their first day out. It did hit 100 around 4 p.m., but oh well.

After I planted the babies, I watered well, not just the plants, but the whole bed. I went over it several times with a sprinkler head, letting the water soak in. Then I put a nice layer of straw mulch over the whole thing, making it extra thick around the plants, and dampened the straw. Shade cloth over the bed will protect the babies from both the intensity of the sun and cabbage-eating bugs.

I have been in melon heaven for several days now, as both the watermelons and cantaloupes are ripening faster than I can eat them. Nothing better on a hot, hot day, than a cold, cold and juicy and sweet melon.

I also recently harvested grapes. Yes, Grapes! I planted the vines just last year, and I did not intend to let them bear. However, I missed a few of the tiny bunches on one vine, and decided to let them mature. I couldn't help myself. I am glad that I had a taste of this Heavenly Blue Grape. They are indeed heavenly. My husband is suggesting building another trellis for yet another Heavenly Blue vine.

Slight chance for rain tonight and tomorrow, then again on Saturday. We've got to get some sometime.

Reminders....

Seven vultures a sittin' in a tree...
Oh my goodness
Are they a lookin' at me?

I was just beginning to water the strawberries this morning when my husband called out...
"Come look at this dead tree!"
He had been on his way to water the fruit trees and had stopped the truck, before diving down the hill, to holler at me.
"Dead tree?" I wondered. "What dead tree?"
I knew he wouldn't call me if something interesting were not afoot. So I set down the bucket and headed to the driveway.
Oh. THAT dead tree. The tree was such a familiar part of the landscape, I'd forgotten about it. But it had a very picturesque group of vultures sitting in it. Reminded me of a movie, when the hero(ine) is in a dire situation. Or sort of like the haunted forest in "The Wizard of Oz."
An appropriate scene for this desert-like drought we're in.
Unusual though, as we usually see our vultures soaring and diving above us. Casting their shadows on our souls.

The Sound of Distant Thunder....

....gets me giddy, excited.
Finally!
We are going to get some rain!

But it also makes me anxious...
Will it really rain here? Or will the storm split around us again?

The sound of rain falling all around... sigh of relief! Rain.
But how long will it rain? Will it even dampen the ground?

Rain last night... 15 hundredths of an inch. Not much.
Fifty to 75 more gallons in each rain tank. The morning cooler, cloudy, humid.

Whatever... I am taking a vacation to the South Pole tomorrow. ('Cause it's still summer at the North Pole.)

Melonticipation

Patience is a virtue.
Especially when it comes to melons.
But it is hard, especially when it comes to melons.
Is it ready yet?
no
....Now is it ready?
No.
..........How about now?

How do you tell when a watermelon is ripe? When it sounds hollow?
They all sound the same to me.
I usually look for a large "butter yellow" spot where the melon rests on the ground and wait for the tendril on the vine right next to the melon's stem to dry up.
But the yellow spot on this beauty has gotten smaller, and is almost gone. The tendril is finally beginning to dry.

I cut one the other day that had a large yellow spot on the bottom, but the tendril was green. The granddaughters were here and I was hoping to give them a treat. But nooooo... The inside was completely green.
Sigh.

I am sooooo looking forward to these watermelons.
Blacktail Mountain watermelons. They aren't huge melons, but there are quite a few of them. I hope they don't boil in this heat. I keep watering... I keep waiting... I keep watching.

Looking for information on how to tell when Blacktail Mountain melon is ripe. "Look for the yellow spot on the bottom. Wait for the tendril to become completely dry... then wait a few days more."

Sigh.

Patience is a Virtue.
But it's hard,
especially when it comes to waiting for watermelons.