Falling Into October

A sister-in-law by marriage joined the ancestors this morning. Today would have been Gary’s 73rd birthday and yesterday marked the 24th year of his passing.

Life is a journey

         We pass through it but must leave

         Ending comes with love

Fall Garden Begins

October 1

Remnants of the summer garden remain. Bell peppers must love this weather because they’re taking off. Okra must be picked every other day or so and are plentiful with still a showing of flower blooms. Fortunately, the last cantaloupes were not lost to night critters. I kept two and gifted the others to a neighbor, who said they “were off the chain!” A few eggplants continue to flower and grow. And so do the jalapeños but the Thai hot peppers are spent. The jalapeños may have blocked the sun from them. Lesson learned, don’t plant together in raised bed. For fall garden, planted collards, cabbage, curly kale, and chard. Looking out over the flower garden, all is well, including the weeds. My little azalea got to breathe after I finally pulled together the Gaura gone wild away from it. Read where you can “pre-dig” Gaura in the early fall and move them by early winter. Probably will start the process later today.

October 3

My biggest bell peppers this season, a nice size eggplant, okra, and jalapeños harvested.

October 9

Continue to harvest lots of okra, bell peppers and jalapeños. Eggplant still hanging.  And finally, a few more sweet potatoes.

October 10

In the morning, fall raised beds looked great. Became enchanted by Gulf Fritillary butterflies feasting in flower garden. Learned their names because @aimee_nezhukumatathil, an author I met at the MS Book Festival, mentioned them in an IG post. By afternoon, discovered some darn critter had begun to devour the chard! Should have followed my gut feeling that morning. But not this time. Netted all the fall beds asap! Then some okra and a couple of jalapeños harvested. 

Indigo Dye Workshop

Had a fantastic experience participating in a 2-day Indigo Dye Workshop, October 5-6, with Jumoke (@moke_ajanku) and Kibibi Ajanku.(@kibibiajanku). Learned folding and binding techniques. Dyed several pieces; a dress and pillowcases left from my grandmother, MaTank. Originally thought I’d cut the pillowcases up for art quilts. Aghast at that idea, Kibibi insisted I make a few small pieces for quilting. Completed the dye rinsing and airdrying pieces in my back yard. Loved, loved the experience and still thinking about how to incorporate pillowcases into my art quilts without cutting them up.

Other Doings

After the Saturday dyeing workshop, found and visited Nourish & Flourish (@flourishbaltimore), a lifestyle boutique café that I follow on social media. Left wishing, I could create the same aesthetic in Greenville.

Scheduled what I call Delta Yin + Restore yoga classes for some October and November dates.

With grace, pride and a bit of bravado I took advantage of my age and voted early. The people who fought, were beaten, lost livelihoods and died for my right to vote come to mind every time I do so. All voting counts but the outcome for this one is especially critical.

Take care ya’ll.